What if the problem isn’t that life is too short—but that we spend a lot of it asleep?
More than 2,000 years ago, the Roman philosopher Seneca wrote one of the most powerful books ever written about time, attention, purpose, and what it means to truly live. His surprising conclusion still feels radical today: Life is long if you know how to use it.
In this seven-week live Zoom course, author and teacher Mark Matousek guides participants through Seneca’s timeless masterpiece, On the Shortness of Life. Rather than simply studying the text, you’ll read it as a group over the course of seven weeks, allowing Seneca’s tremendous insights to unfold gradually through discussion, reflection, and personal writing.
“Mark is a masterful and loving guide: his wisdom teachings and brilliantly conceived questions enable you to dissolve the coverings and open to life-changing truth. You don’t need skill in writing to partake; all that’s required is the longing to awaken your heart.”
~ Tara Brach, spiritual teacher, psychologist and author of Radical Acceptance, and Radical Compassion
Each 90-minute session includes Mark’s introduction to the week’s topic, a Writing to Awaken practice, optional small-group breakout conversations, and plenty of time for questions and conversation. The result is a rich, enlivening learning experience where ancient wisdom speaks to you directly in your modern life.
On the Shortness of Life is deeply relevant to the challenges we face today: endless distraction, information overload, chronic busyness, fractured attention, and the feeling that time is always slipping away. Seneca reminds us that our greatest loss is not time itself, but the unconscious ways we surrender it. His philosophy offers practical advice for reclaiming attention, living deliberately, and recognizing quality over quantity.
Whether you’re seeking greater purpose, a healthier relationship with time, or a deeper encounter with one of history’s greatest wisdom texts, you’ll have the opportunity in this course to slow down, think deeply, write honestly, and discover how Seneca’s words continue to transform lives two millennia later.
LESSON OVERVIEW
Week One: Life Is Long If You Know How to Use It
In this first session, you’re introduced to Seneca’s Stoic teachings, and the genesis of our feelings of being time-poor. Attention is key to slowing down time, choosing value over convenience, mastering technology (rather than being its slave), and overcoming the fear of missing out.
Week Two: The Illusion of Busyness
Next, we move to Seneca’s wise observations about time wasting versus intentional living, and the psychology of distraction. We cling to material goods while squandering our most precious resource, time, on meaningless things without reward. We hide behind our busyness as a shield against anxiety and wonder why life seems short.
Week Three: Attention Is Our Most Valuable Resource
In this session, we explore presence versus fragmentation, and ancient wisdom about attention economy. Seneca and the Stoics were the West’s first mindfulness teachers, emphasizing present moment awareness and attention to our own minds. This helps reduce the pull of our unconscious habits, making us more responsive than reactive.
Week Four: Mortality as a Teacher
The Stoic practice of Memento Mori — to remember mortality on a daily basis, is key to an awakened, meaningful, life. The avoidance of impermanence weakens us immeasurably, traps us in illusion, prevents us from living with purpose and courage, as this lesson will show you.
Week Five: Freedom Through Inner Discipline
Seneca and the Stoics had other useful practices for savoring time and increasing personal excellence. In this lesson, we look at the Stoic virtues — Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, as prerequisites to eudaimonia, or personal thriving.
Week Six: Living According to Nature
In this lesson, we focus on nature as the greatest source of wisdom available, in the eyes of to Seneca and the Stoics. Observing nature, we learn to live with simplicity, gratitude, and sufficiency. Nature teaches us to redefine success as living in accordance with things as they are.
Week Seven: Making Life Long
This final session integrates Seneca’s teachings into how we live today. When we stop fearing time, we become its ally. This liberates us from anxiety. Recognizing that a day can be long when we make it so helps us step off the hamster wheel.
Why Study with Mark
Mark Matousek’s has spent decades exploring the intersection of wisdom traditions, psychology, memoir, and personal transformation. As the author of
Emerson, the Stoics, and Me, and numerous books on self-inquiry and authentic living, he has helped thousands of people around the world to reach to reach their personal, professional, and spiritual goals.
Mark approaches philosophy not as an academic subject but as a lived practice.
Drawing on his deep knowledge of Stoic philosophy, history, literature, and
contemplative practice, he illuminates Seneca’s world while helping participants
apply these ancient teachings to their own lives.
Each session combines scholarship with warmth, insight with humor, and intellectual rigor with heartfelt conversation. Participants won’t simply study Seneca — they’ll experience how his wisdom can transform the way they think about time, attention, and what it means to live a truly examined life.
HOW THE ONLINE CLASS WORKS
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Seneca’s book, On the Shortness of Life, is required reading for this course. Mark encourages participants to read pages 1-20 of the book before the first lesson.
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This online class consists of seven 90-minute live weekly Zoom sessions beginning on Tuesday,
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Each 90-minute Zoom meeting begins with Mark’s introductory talk, followed by a discussion of the weekly reading, break-out groups, and a guided Writing to Awaken practice.
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All sessions are recorded and the playback links are emailed to all registrants the following day, along with additional writing prompts and bonus materials to deepen your understanding.
GO DEEPER WITH MARK
You may also sign up to receive feedback and personalized writing prompts from Mark. Submit your written responses to each week’s lesson and Mark will provide written feedback and offer other questions to explore. Enrollment in this option has an additional cost and is limited.
Written submissions should be no more than 1,000 words and must be received by the Sunday after the live session (5 days). Mark’s feedback is focused on insight, authenticity of voice, and emotional honesty not writing technique, prose style, or grammar. His responses offer additional prompts for deeper exploration of the subject.
“Using Mark and his classes as a form of life coaching is what has been working for me on this quest called — My Life. He has shed so much light on my dark and dirty spots with his astute and introspective questions. The only thing I want from Mark and his classes is MORE.”
~ Ferebe, USA
The Stoic writings of the philosopher Seneca offer powerful insights into the art of living, the importance of reason and morality, and provide much-needed guidance through their eloquence, lucidity and timeless wisdom.
What You’ll Learn:
What You Will Take Away From This Course:
~ Immerse yourself in one of Stoicism’s timeless wisdom texts texts alongside an experienced guide.
~ Learn practical Stoic principles for managing distraction, overwhelm, and the pressures of modern life.
~ Develop a healthier relationship with time, attention, work, and purpose.
~ Deepen self-awareness through guided reflective writing.
~ Learn from meaningful conversations with fellow participants.
~ Leave with practical habits and perspectives that can be applied long after the course ends.
This interactive online format provides an excellent opportunity for self-inquiry — and honing your life-writing skills — in an atmosphere of mutual support and safety. Known for his insightful questions, Mark brings decades of experience to the topic of storytelling and self-inquiry as an award-winning memoir writer and author of Writing to Awaken: A Journey of Truth, Transformation, and Self-Discovery
Who will benefit from this course:
This course is for anyone who:
~ Feels overwhelmed by busyness or constant distraction.
~ Wants to cultivate greater purpose and presence.
~ Is interested in Stoicism, philosophy, psychology, or spirituality.
~ Enjoys reading transformative books in community.
~ Seeks thoughtful conversation rather than quick answers.
~ Wants practical wisdom for living well in an increasingly hectic world.
No previous experience with philosophy or Stoicism is necessary. Beginners are welcome, while experienced readers will discover fresh insights through close reading and discussion.
Why Study with Mark?
Mark Matousek’s has spent decades exploring the intersection of wisdom traditions, psychology, memoir, and personal transformation. As the author of Emerson, the Stoics, and Me, and numerous books on self-inquiry and authentic living, he has helped thousands of people around the world to reach to reach their personal, professional, and spiritual goals.
Mark approaches philosophy not as an academic subject but as a lived practice. Drawing on his deep knowledge of Stoic philosophy, history, literature, and contemplative practice, he illuminates Seneca’s world while helping participants apply these ancient teachings to their own lives.
Each session combines scholarship with warmth, insight with humor, and intellectual rigor with heartfelt conversation. Participants won’t simply study Seneca — they’ll experience how his wisdom can transform the way they think about time, attention, and what it means to live a truly examined life.
Enrollment
Early Registration Tuition
(Register before February, 28, 2026)
Seven-Week Online Class
Live Zoom Sessions and Bonus Materials
$197.00 USD – Ealy Registration Special Through September 15
Full Tuition: $247 USD – After September 15