Ancient Stoic wisdom integrated with modern mindfulness practice
Being. is a mobile mindfulness app that synthesizes ancient Stoic philosophy with contemporary mindfulness practice. Built on a five-principle framework that integrates Stoic wisdom, mindfulness meditation, and modern neuroscience, Being helps you develop practical skills for navigating life's challenges with clarity, resilience, and virtue.
Stoic Mindfulness rests on a simple insight: Aware Wisdom = Metacognitive Awareness × Philosophical Discernment. Without awareness, even the best philosophical principles remain abstract ideas that vanish under pressure. Without principled judgment, even refined awareness becomes directionless, unable to distinguish what matters from what merely captures attention.
This framework isn't pop-Stoicism or diluted mindfulness—it's a rigorous synthesis of:
- Classical Stoicism: Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca (2,000+ years of wisdom)
- Mindfulness Practice: Contemporary meditation techniques rooted in contemplative traditions
- Neuroscience: How contemplative practice reshapes the brain for lasting change
The framework builds from foundation through discernment to response, ethics, and practice:
Present Perception + Metacognitive Space + Embodied Awareness
The foundation of all practice. Notice when your mind has left the present moment and gently return. Cultivate the space between stimulus and response where choice becomes possible. Feel sensations in your body as they arise.
Daily Practice: "Am I present and aware right now?"
This is what's happening. What do I do from here?
Distinguish acceptance from resignation. Accept reality as it is (not as you wish it were), then respond wisely. Radical acceptance isn't passive—it's the foundation for effective action. You cannot respond skillfully to a situation you refuse to see clearly.
Daily Practice: "Am I accepting what is, or resisting reality?"
Dichotomy of Control + Intention Over Outcome
Focus energy on what you can influence, release what you cannot. Calibrate your expectations to match reality: some things are fully in your control (your choices, responses, intentions), some you can influence (outcomes, others' actions), and some are beyond your power entirely. Focus on intentions and efforts, not outcomes.
Daily Practice: "Am I focused only on what I control?"
Wisdom, Courage, Justice, Temperance
Character over outcomes, intentions over results. Respond to life's challenges by cultivating the four cardinal virtues:
- Wisdom: Sound judgment about what matters
- Courage: Standing by what's right despite fear or difficulty
- Justice: Treating others with fairness and contributing to the common good
- Temperance: Balance, moderation, and self-regulation
Daily Practice: "Am I responding with virtue in this moment?"
Relational Presence + Interconnected Action
Recognize our shared humanity and interconnectedness. Expand perspective beyond self-interest to include others and the common good. Bring full presence to relationships. Act with awareness that your choices ripple outward, affecting the larger whole.
Daily Practice: "Am I considering others and the common good?"
Set your day's tone before reactive patterns engage:
1. Settle with Breath (3 minutes)
- Sit comfortably, close eyes or soften gaze
- Bring attention to physical sensations of breathing
- When mind wanders, label "thinking" and return to breath
- Builds Aware Presence (present attention + metacognitive observation)
2. Open Awareness (5-10 minutes)
- Allow attention to open to whatever arises: sounds, sensations, thoughts, emotions
- Observe each as temporary event in awareness without grasping or resisting
- Notice what's happening in your body (embodied awareness)
- Practice Radical Acceptance of whatever experiences arise
3. Set Daily Intention (2-3 minutes)
- Review your day's commitments
- Choose specific focus from the five principles:
- "Today I practice Aware Presence when I notice my mind time-traveling"
- "Today I apply Sphere Sovereignty when facing obstacles"
- "Today I respond with Virtue in that difficult conversation"
- Write intention briefly if helpful
4. Optional: Gratitude & Impermanence (2-3 minutes)
- Briefly acknowledge: this day isn't guaranteed, circumstances will change
- Note three specific things you're grateful for right now
- Incorporates negative visualization with safety framing
Minimum practice: 5 minutes (3 minutes breath + 2 minutes intention)
Reconnect with principles during the day:
STOP Practice:
- Stop what you're doing
- Take a breath (or three)
- Observe what's happening in body and mind
- Proceed with awareness and intention
Brief check-in with the five questions:
- Am I present? (Aware Presence)
- Am I accepting what is? (Radical Acceptance)
- Am I focused on what I control? (Sphere Sovereignty)
- Am I responding with virtue? (Virtuous Response)
- Am I considering others? (Interconnected Living)
Honest examination for learning and growth (not self-judgment):
1. Review Morning Intention
- Did you remember it during the day?
- Were there opportunities to practice?
- What made it possible or what interfered?
2. Identify Wise Responses
- Where did you respond from wisdom and virtue?
- Acknowledge specifically—positive reinforcement strengthens neural pathways
3. Identify Unskillful Responses
- Where did you violate principles or values?
- Examine with compassionate honesty (not self-flagellation)
- What triggered the response? What beliefs or patterns drove it?
4. Mental Rehearsal
- Imagine specifically how you might respond differently in similar future situations
- Concrete rehearsal makes alternative responses more accessible
- More effective than vague commitments to "do better"
5. Three Gratitudes
- Three specific things from today (not generic)
- "I'm grateful my colleague took time to explain that concept"
- Not "I'm grateful for my job"
- Classical Sources: All content grounded in Marcus Aurelius (Meditations), Epictetus (Enchiridion, Discourses), Seneca (Letters from a Stoic, On Anger)
- Educational Approach: Learn authentic Stoic Mindfulness V2 framework, not pop-Stoicism
- Virtue Ethics: Track growth in Wisdom, Justice, Courage, Temperance
- Balanced Practice: Self-compassion integrated to prevent harsh "stoicism" (emotional suppression)
- No Experience Required: Guided practices for complete beginners
- Time-Flexible: 5-20 minute sessions fit into any schedule
- Mobile-First: Practice anywhere, anytime on your phone
- Offline-First: Full functionality without internet connection
- Local-First: All personal data encrypted and stored on your device
- AES-256 Encryption: Military-grade protection for your reflections
- No Account Required: Practice without creating accounts or sharing data
- Export Anytime: Full data portability and deletion rights
- 60fps Animations: Smooth breathing animations for therapeutic quality
- <2s Launch: Instant access to your practice
- Memory Efficient: <150MB usage during extended sessions
- Battery Conscious: Optimized for all-day use
- Framework: React Native 0.79.5 with Expo SDK 53
- Language: TypeScript 5.8.3 (strict mode) for type safety
- State Management: Zustand 5.0.8 with encrypted AsyncStorage persistence
- Navigation: React Navigation 7.x with modal-based flow presentation
- Security: AES-256-GCM encryption with device keychain key storage
- Testing: Jest + React Native Testing Library with comprehensive coverage
app/
├── src/
│ ├── components/ # Reusable UI components
│ │ ├── breathing/ # 60fps breathing animations
│ │ └── core/ # Base components (buttons, inputs)
│ ├── flows/ # Structured practice journeys
│ │ ├── morning/ # Morning practice (6 screens)
│ │ ├── midday/ # Midday reset (5 screens)
│ │ └── evening/ # Evening reflection (11 screens)
│ ├── screens/ # App navigation screens
│ │ ├── home/ # Main dashboard with three check-ins
│ │ └── settings/ # User preferences and data management
│ ├── services/ # Business logic and data management
│ │ ├── security/ # Encryption and key management
│ │ └── storage/ # Encrypted data persistence
│ ├── stores/ # Zustand state management
│ │ └── stoicPracticeStore.ts # Practice data and virtue tracking
│ ├── types/ # TypeScript definitions
│ │ ├── stoic.ts # Stoic philosophy type safety
│ │ └── flows.ts # Practice flow definitions
│ └── theme/ # Design system and accessibility
│ ├── accessibility.ts # WCAG 2.1 AA compliant colors
│ └── colors.ts # Color system with DRD theming
├── __tests__/ # Comprehensive test suite
│ ├── unit/ # Unit tests for business logic
│ ├── integration/ # Flow and navigation tests
│ └── performance/ # Animation and timing validation
└── docs/ # App-specific documentation
npm test # Run all tests
npm run test:unit # Unit tests for core logic
npm run test:integration # Flow navigation and state tests
npm run test:performance # 60fps animation validation
npm run typecheck # TypeScript strict mode check- Philosophical Accuracy: All Stoic content validated against classical sources
- Type Safety: Strict TypeScript for compile-time guarantees
- Performance: 60fps sustained animations, <2s launch time
- Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for inclusive design
- Security: Comprehensive encryption and data protection testing
- Node.js 18+ and npm
- iOS: macOS with Xcode 15+
- Android: Android Studio with SDK 34+
- Expo CLI installed globally
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/[your-org]/being.git
cd being/app
# Install dependencies
npm install
# iOS: Install pods
cd ios && pod install && cd ..
# Start development server
npm start
# Run on iOS
npm run ios
# Run on Android
npm run androidNo API keys or environment variables required - Being is fully offline-first!
/docs/- Project-wide documentation (legal, brand guidelines)/docs/architecture/- Technical documentation (architecture, security)/docs/product/stoic-mindfulness/- Complete Stoic Mindfulness V2 framework/docs/accessibility/- WCAG compliance and inclusive design/scripts/- Development and operational scripts
- Stoic Mindfulness Framework INDEX - Complete navigation
- Five Core Principles - Detailed principle documentation
- Daily Practice Architecture - Complete practice guide
- WCAG Compliance Guide
- Security & Encryption
- Contributing Guidelines
- WCAG 2.1 AA: All colors meet minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratios
- Touch Targets: Minimum 44x44pt (AAA level) for motor accessibility
- Screen Readers: Complete VoiceOver/TalkBack compatibility
- Cognitive Load: Simple, focused screens reduce anxiety for users with depression
Three distinct visual themes for morning, midday, and evening practices:
- Morning: Warm sunrise tones (#C4814C) for energy and clarity
- Midday: Energizing blue (#2E86AB) for focus and reset
- Evening: Calming purple (#8B4789) for reflection and rest
- Philosophical Accuracy: All Stoic content must reference classical sources and be validated by philosopher agent
- Type Safety: Strict TypeScript required for all code
- Testing: Comprehensive test coverage for new features
- Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA compliance maintained
- Performance: 60fps animations and responsive interactions
- TypeScript Strict: Zero tolerance for type errors
- ESLint: Consistent code style enforcement
- Prettier: Automated code formatting
- Conventional Commits: Semantic versioning support
development- Default branch for active developmentmain- Production-ready releases onlyfeat/*- Feature branches from developmentfix/*- Bug fix branches from developmentchore/*- Infrastructure and tooling updates
- iOS 13.0+ (modern device support)
- iPhone 8+ recommended
- Full VoiceOver accessibility
- Optimized for modern iOS design patterns
- Android 10.0+ (API level 29+)
- 4GB RAM recommended for smooth performance
- Full TalkBack accessibility
- Material Design integration
- AES-256 Encryption: All personal data encrypted at rest
- Device-Only Storage: No cloud sync, no external servers
- Key Management: Secure keychain storage with device-bound keys
- No Tracking: Zero analytics or tracking without explicit consent
- Right to Delete: Complete data deletion available anytime
- Local-First: Your reflections never leave your device
- No Accounts: Practice without creating accounts
- Transparent: Open source code for complete transparency
- User Control: Full data export and deletion rights
While Being is primarily an educational tool for Stoic Mindfulness philosophy and personal development, we recognize that users may be navigating mental health challenges:
- PHQ-9: Depression screening with clinically accurate scoring
- GAD-7: Anxiety assessment with validated evaluation
- Private & Encrypted: All assessment data encrypted on your device
- Emergency Access: Quick access to crisis support resources
- 988 Integration: Direct link to Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Safety Planning: Personal crisis plan creation and storage
- Crisis Text Line: 741741 text support integration
Important: Being teaches Stoic Mindfulness philosophy for resilience-building and personal development. It is an educational tool, not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you're experiencing a crisis, please contact:
- Emergency: 911 for immediate danger
- 988 Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7 support)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Professional Care: Contact your therapist or psychiatrist
Being. makes ancient Stoic wisdom accessible for modern life through the Stoic Mindfulness framework—helping individuals develop practical philosophy skills through daily practice that builds awareness, resilience, clarity, and virtue one day at a time.
- MIT License: Open source development with educational focus
- Privacy Policy: Comprehensive privacy protections for personal data
- Terms of Service: Clear guidelines for educational software usage
- Philosophical Integrity: Commitment to classical Stoic accuracy
Classical Stoic Texts:
- Marcus Aurelius - Meditations (Gregory Hays translation)
- Epictetus - Enchiridion and Discourses (Robin Hard translation)
- Seneca - Letters from a Stoic and On Anger
Integration Framework:
- Stoic Mindfulness V2: Five-principle synthesis of Stoicism + mindfulness + neuroscience
- Contemporary scholarship on virtue ethics and contemplative practice
- Modern research on neuroplasticity and contemplative neuroscience
Stoic Mindfulness integrates self-compassion with philosophical reflection. This prevents the harshness of colloquial "stoicism" (emotional suppression) and honors the Stoic ideal of wisdom applied to oneself. Examine yourself honestly, but with kindness—virtue development requires patience, not perfectionism.
React Native, TypeScript, Expo, Zustand, and a commitment to philosophical accuracy and user privacy.
Ancient wisdom, modern practice. Built with philosophical integrity, secured with military-grade encryption, designed for inclusive access to timeless principles.
Version: 2.0.0 | Framework: Stoic Mindfulness V2 | Approach: Educational