THINK LIKE A PHILOSOPHER: WHY YOUR MINDSET SHAPES EVERYTHING
At Philosopher Kings, we teach next-gen professionals how to think, speak, and act with knowledge, wisdom, and virtue. Today’s post is about why thinking—your inner life—is the foundation of everything else.
Because the truth is:
Quality thoughts = Quality life.
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”
—Marcus Aurelius
In other words: Your life is shaped by your mindset. How you treat your people. How you show up in high-stakes moments. How you respond when things go sideways. It all begins in your head.
Why Your Thoughts Matter More Than You Think
If you’re a young professional, chances are your head is already a war zone. Welcome to the club. You’re not alone if you’ve had thoughts like:
Am I falling behind my peers?
How do I balance being a good parent/partner/friend with work?
Should I be farther along by now?
Why does this all feel so overwhelming?
These thought loops are normal—but they’re often unreasonable and unhelpful, and they will quietly sabotage your confidence and joy if left unchecked. That’s why one of the first things we work on in our coaching is helping you reframe your thinking.
And it’s not just the slow spirals. It’s the flash reactions too:
That moment of anger at a colleague.
The fear of making a costly mistake.
The shame that lingers long after you already made one.
Totally human. But you’re not just human—you’re growing. And learning how to recognize, redirect, and retrain your thoughts is essential for that growth.
Three Mental Tools to Level Up Your Thinking
Let’s go deeper. Here are three mindset tools we teach to help professionals stop spiraling and start thinking with clarity, focus, and strength:
1. The Learner’s Path
This is your Jedi mindset. You’re a student—always becoming, never arriving.
As a young professional, you’ll make mistakes. Lots of them. But if you frame your career as a Learner’s Path, you gain grace without losing ambition. You’re not supposed to be perfect—you’re supposed to be becoming.
The path gives you permission to be human.
It gives you clarity about where you’re headed.
And it keeps your eyes on long-term mastery, not short-term approval.
Strive with excellence. Fail with humility. Grow with purpose. That’s what the learner does.
2. The Alter Ego
Sometimes, you need another version of yourself to step up and lead the way.
Cicero once said his best friend was like his “other I”—a voice that helped him rise above himself. In modern terms, your alter ego is the bold, brave, take-no-prisoners version of you who shows up when fear or inexperience would otherwise hold you back.
Bo Jackson called his alter ego “Jason Voorhees” (yes, the guy in the hockey mask) because that part of him just executed. No fear. No questions. Just action.
For me? I channel “Swift-Footed Markilles”—my Achilles-mode. He’s all in, no flinching. And when it’s time to pull the trigger on something big, he takes over.
You’ve got one too. Find them. Name them. Let them carry the load when your confidence needs backup.
3. Gap and Gain
This tool is a lifesaver for high achievers.
The “Gap” mindset constantly compares where you are to where you wish you were. It leads to discouragement, anxiety, and burnout.
The “Gain” mindset tracks how far you’ve come. It celebrates progress. It builds confidence. It grounds your ambition in gratitude.
“Mark, you’re missing it.”
That’s what my mentor once told me while we hiked Ein Gedi in Israel. I was so focused on what was next for my career, I was missing what was— hiking in ibex country while studying ancient mythology. That moment changed me.
Since then, I’ve tried to stay present, to measure progress backward, and to live in the Gain—even while reaching forward.
Real Life: Meet Michelle
Let’s bring this to life. Michelle is a pediatric nurse and part of our Philosopher Kings community. She’s smart, kind, and deeply capable—but was struggling with overwhelm early in her career.
Learner’s Path helped her remember: mistakes are part of growth. Her job wasn’t to be perfect—it was to become wise and trustworthy through experience.
Alter Ego gave her the strength to walk into hard conversations. When families needed clarity or comfort, her “other I” showed up with grace and resolve.
Gap and Gain helped her stop obsessing over how far she had to go and start celebrating how far she’d already come.
That’s how Michelle became steady, confident, and joyful—even in a fast-paced, emotionally charged environment. Not because the pressure disappeared, but because she learned to think differently.
Final Thought
Your mind is the first place you win or lose.
If you change how you think, your speech and actions will follow.
So remember these three tools:
The Learner’s Path – Embrace the process.
The Alter Ego – Channel courage when it counts.
Gap and Gain – Measure backward. Celebrate forward.
“Your philosophy is your life. Your life is your philosophy.”
Train your thoughts like a pro. Guard them like a treasure. And use them to become the kind of person this world needs most.
So glad you’re here.
Mark Shaffer
Founder, Philosopher Kings