Let’s be honest: how often do you find yourself getting upset by daily or random events in your life? When was the last time you felt aggravated, your blood boiling, your heart racing, your face turning red? Maybe even your entire body shaking, feeling attacked and defensive?
Do you remember what you were thinking? What images did you create in your mind?
It’s funny how, for centuries, people have continued to ask the same questions: how to cope with adversity, live a fulfilling life, and feel happy. With every generation, we keep looking for answers all around us and forget about the wisdom of our ancient philosophers and their timeless guidance on these existential dilemmas.
Stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC, emphasizes the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. Fortitude is a virtue that means having strength and courage in the face of adversity, difficulty, or pain.
Stoic philosophers observed that we are disturbed not by the events themselves, but by our judgments of these events – what happens to us. Epictetus, a former slave turned influential philosopher, argued that while we cannot control external events, we can control our reactions to them. “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters,” he said. By changing our perceptions and judgments, we can alter our emotional responses and find peace amidst chaos.
Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and philosopher, echoed these sentiments in his personal writings, later compiled as Meditations. Despite the immense pressures of his position, Aurelius found peace in Stoic philosophy. He reminded himself that external events are beyond our control, but our judgments and reactions are within our power. “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment,” he wrote.
The teachings of Stoic philosophers encourage us to cultivate a mindset of acceptance and resilience by recognizing that our suffering often stems from our interpretations rather than the events themselves. Mindfulness and self-reflection, key principles of Stoicism, help us become more aware of our judgment and learn to adjust them by daily practices such as journaling and meditation.
The Stoic philosophy also teaches that virtue – honesty, integrity, kindness, courage, and justice – is the highest good and is all we need for happiness.
I hope I’ve sparked your interest enough to explore the philosophical school of Stoicism and consider the timeless wisdom of its teachings.