First things first — I’ve written a book. It will be available to purchase in all formats (paperback, hardback, eBook, and audiobook) on 9 December 2025.
If you’d like to pre-order an autographed copy, to be posted on release day, you can do that right here – The Foundations Of Feeling Good – By Dominic Byrne
Now, let’s talk about how I’m feeling about it — because I’m in one of the most ironic situations I’ve faced so far.
In the book, I share how studying and practising Stoicism has been a transformative journey — one that’s improved my life in tangible ways and elevated my sense of happiness beyond anything I imagined possible. In a world that’s unpredictable and often chaotic, Stoicism has given me something solid to stand on: a philosophy rooted in resilience, acceptance, and inner peace.
I write about learning to distinguish between what’s within my control and what isn’t. That single shift in perspective has freed me from a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. Instead of lamenting the things I can’t change, I’ve been focusing my energy on my own actions, responses, and mindset. With that clarity, I’ve found a calm kind of confidence — one that doesn’t depend on external circumstances but on how I choose to meet them.
And yet, here comes the irony.
After deciding to publish and promote this very book — a book about composure, self-mastery, and peace of mind — I’ve felt some of the most self-conscious and anxious emotions I’ve had in months.
Suddenly, I’ve had to lean heavily on all the advice I wrote in those pages. Because putting yourself out there — opening your heart, sharing your thoughts, and suggesting ways for others to find more happiness — invites opinion, criticism, and misunderstanding. It’s vulnerable. And, for me, that vulnerability feels stronger with family and friends than it does with the public.
It’s a reality check — a reminder that, yes, I’ve come a long way, but I still have a way to go. I’m still human. I’m still vulnerable to insecurity, low self-esteem, social anxiety, and that subtle craving for external validation. At times, I still catch myself caring too much about how I’m perceived — a form of impression management, as psychology calls it.
The Stoics would say this is being externally focused — attaching my peace of mind to things I can’t control, like the opinions of others.
But here’s the beautiful part: I can see it happening. I’m aware of it. And that awareness is everything. It’s the foundation that allows me to step back, breathe, and apply what I’ve learned — not perfectly, but honestly.
Every time I feel the pull of anxiety or self-doubt, I see it as another opportunity to practise. To strengthen the very principles I wrote about. To keep building the scaffolding that supports me in becoming a little steadier, a little freer, every day.
Writing this book has been a journey of self-discovery. Publishing it, it seems, is becoming one too.
By Dominic Byrne