Karen Duffy
About Karen Duffy
Speech topics
Optimism: Using Stoicism to Find The Bright Side When Things Look Darkest
Bring up philosophy, and people look at you like you asked them to chew bees. But Stoic philosophy is practical wisdom for everyone. The Stoics of ancient Greece and Rome used a practice called 'premeditation malorum'-imagining bad things that might occur, so as to be better prepared to roll with the punches. You can also flip this practice on its head, and anticipate that good things will happen, so you can appreciate them when they do.
Stoic optimists do not live with their heads in the clouds. They are committed to being a person with both feet on the ground, who focuses on the positive, who looks for the good in people, and opportunities to be of service. When negative events happen, optimists pick themselves up with Stoicism.
Optimists propel us forward. Innovators, entrepreneurs, and activists are optimists. Stoics know that optimism won’t solve all the world’s problems, but we will never stop trying.
Speaking videos
Books by Karen Duffy
“Wise Up: Irreverent Enlightenment from a Mother Who's Been Through It” (2022)
From becoming an iconic MTV VJ to starring in Dumb and Dumber to being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, Karen Duffy has been through a lot. But it was only when she became a mother that she realized she had some pretty solid life lessons to pass down. In her new book, she offers advice on building a friend group that is weasel free, finding the love of your life, and determining how much to tip the waiter (as with everything--be generous!). With dry humor and maternal warmth, she shows how we all can learn from unexpected philosophers, even from Bulgarian dancing bears. There are times in life when we should turn to the wisdom of great thinkers. And there are times when you need the kind of enlightenment that only a former Coney Island Mermaid Queen can give. Wise Up offers wisecracks--and some profound insights--in a unique book of parental inspiration.
At a glanceKaren Duffy
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