Robertson argues that many of the core principles of cognitive-behavioural therapy—such as challenging irrational beliefs and focusing on what is within our control—can be traced directly to Stoic philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. By comparing ancient texts with modern therapeutic techniques, he shows that Stoicism anticipated many CBT strategies, making the philosophy not just historically interesting, but practically relevant for contemporary mental health.
A central theme is the idea that our emotional suffering is largely a product of our judgments and interpretations, not external events themselves. This mirrors the Stoic maxim: 'It’s not things themselves that disturb us, but our judgments about them.' Robertson details how both Stoicism and CBT teach us to examine and reframe our thoughts, thereby reducing anxiety, anger, and depression.
“It is not things themselves that disturb us, but our judgments about them.”
