135: Bill Mauro The Stoic Cop: How an Ancient Philosophy is the Perfect Antidote to Modern Times

Bill Mauro is the author of The Stoic Cop: Policing Through Stoic Virtue. Bill is also a deputy sheriff in Florida with a family in law enforcement.  A few years ago, Bill found himself struggling with a deep depression and thoughts of suicide. A miraculous intervention with a stranger changed his life and he eventually found his strength and guidance in Stoicism.  I can't overstate how important Stoicism has become to my own mindset and personal pursuit of my own virtue. To say it is my religion might be a stretch but not by much. But what is Stoicism?  It's probably not what you think it is.  Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy which teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. Think of it like an operating system for your life. This isn't philosophy about the purpose of our existence. This is about how to handle anger, ego, fear, discipline, humility and internal peace.  Seems worth it, right? You've heard me say, "control what you can control." That's a piece of Stoicism.  Here are the books we talk about in this episode and that I recommend to anyone interested in learning more:    The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Meditations by Marcus Aurelius  The Art of Living by Epictetus Letters from a Stoic by Seneca    I want to offer you something that I'm very excited about, and it's absolutely FREE. We are launching Tactical Tuesdays - a free weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a book I want to share, gear I've found useful, an inspiring quote, or anything else I think you'd like. To sign up for the Tactical Tuesdays email list, you can visit thesquadroom.net/tacticaltuesdays or just text your email address to 805-364-2331. I promise we won't sell or spam your email account.    If you want to know how you can support the show, there are a few ways to do that:    If you like what you heard today, if you got something out of the conversation, please consider leaving a review on the podcast player of your choice. If you got a few seconds, please leave a comment with your review.    Second, share this episode or any other episode you loved with people you know need to hear it. You can share episodes right from our webpage at thesquadroom.net and from most podcast players.   Also, join our FB group and follow me on IG @thesquadroom  There are some great companies who support the podcast and support you as well. Go to thesquadroom.net/support to see exclusive deals from Signature Coins, Hard to Kill Fitness, OfficerPrivacy.com, Comm Gear Supply, Onnit, RangerUp, Hard Head Veterans, and Audible.  If you're looking for the best fitting ballistic helmet that exceeds NIJ standards and won't break the bank, check out Hardheadveterans.com and use the coupon code "Squadroom" to get $20 off your helmet.