Stoicism is an ancient Greco-Roman philosophy tradition that teaches you how to live a good, wholesome and tranquil life. It focuses on what you can control in your life and accepting what you cannot.
It seems to pop up at times when you least expect it to. Is it being used correctly or just thrown in to add to the algorithm? That is another question.
The world we currently live in is one full of noise, constant notifications, endless social media bombardments, non-stop ads of whatever kind. immediate gratification, more likes and followers and increase in anxiety levels. No wonder more people appear to be stressed out than ever before.
Stoicism offers something that is still relevant today. it is a practical system that anyone can practice that encourages finding inner calm, clarity and purpose in your life. It does not force you to retreat from the world. It shows you tools to protect yourself and manage the outside noise in a calm manner.
Is stoicism relevant today?
Stoicism was founded in Athens somewhere around 300BC by the philosopher Zeno of Citium.
Yes, the world back then looked very different to what it is now. No one can deny that. For us it feels as if today is a fast paced world which cannot compare to those times. Who is to say that they did not feel as if they lived in such a society at that time? They did however know that if they had a bad attitude to things that did not go according to their plan it did not change things. Instead they learned that being mentally prepared was more important. They were better able to cope with things. We may not be able to control events but we can choose how we respond to them.
Being stoic in today’s world is possible and learning from the ancient teachings can help us now. Who else has the image of Stoick from How To Train Your Dragon when you hear the word stoic? He was of course Stoick the Vast. Did he practice some forms of stoicism?
This is only a short take on what stoicism is all about. Please research and read up about it yourself to come up with your own understanding. It can be such rewarding topic to read up about. Who knows what you may discover about yourself.
The four pillars or virtues of stoicism
The ancient philosophy revolves around four core principles
- Wisdom or prudence.
- Courage or fortitude.
- Justice or fairness.
- Temperance or self-discipline.
1. Wisdom
Even back in Zeno’s time wisdom was very important. Reading and learning were vital as was the ability to observe all that is going on around you. Learning is an ongoing activity no matter what your age is.
It is so easy to feel overwhelmed with the amount of information that is being thrown at us on a daily basis. We need to be able to figure out what is relevant and accurate information and disregard the rest. Keeping our minds open to learning new skills is key to our survival.
Remaining humble and finding the good teachers are essential. Learning from real masters makes it so much easier to retain the relevant information or skills. Critical thinking is also of vital importance.
- Use wisdom to make better decisions
Before making a decision, ask yourself “is this within my control?” if it is then act on it. However, if it is not then let it go and move on. This simple question can help you focus on the important things and saves you time and reduces stress.
2. Courage
How many of us have been in situations in life where we feel as if the whole world is against us or things are so bad. Without even realising it we found courage to stand up for ourselves or to push past the situation and get on with our lives. We often forget how brave we have been and how strong we had to be to overcome the negative situations. For those people who have lived their life without facing horrible events or even opposition of any kind how do they know who they are and what they are really capable of?
Being brave is so important in life and it teaches us some valuable lessons. It really helps us learn more about ourselves and how resilient we are.
- Cultivate courage through small acts
Courage does not have to include large heroic deeds. It can something simple as speaking up in a meeting. taking the first step to fix a broken relationship or even apologising when you have done or said something wrong. These small acts of courage build a sense of resilience in you that will prepare you for the big challenges in life.
3. Justice
Some may say that justice and doing the right thing is the most important virtue within stoicism. That is up to you to decide. Justice influences all the other virtues. Throughout history the stoics have pushed for fairness and advocated for justice. They often suffered in their quest for it. They displayed great courage in pushing for it and many have died as a result.
The world may seem unfair and unjust. Justice may not be something that we as individuals can do on a large scale. We can however practice it in our everyday lives.
Something as simple as holding the door open for the person coming in behind you or just being there and listening to a friend who is going through a rough time. Helping out a colleague even when it is not in your job description. They may have a heavier workload with other staff missing. If you have the time then why not help. Supporting a neighbour when they need some help.
It is a way of treating other people fairly, regardless of how they treat you.
4. Temperance
Temperance is all about self-discipline or moderation. Not doing too much or too little. A way of finding out the golden middle ground for your actions, emotions, desire and commitment and remaining in that sweet spot.
Whether it is balancing work and personal life or knowing when to speak up or when to listen, moderation is the key to success.
We currently live in a world full of excess. Food and items arrive after pressing a button. Social approval is received on a 24/7 basis. Every aspect of our life appears to be just a click away. Instant gratification is promised. Everything seems so easy to get or grasp.
Temperance begins with self knowledge. Learning more about yourself. Where do you constantly go too far? Doom scrolling for hours? Throwing food out as you bought too much?
Starting by taking a pause before doing something and thinking. “Do I need to buy that or check my phone yet again?” “Am I just procrastinating?”
Practice being grateful for what you already have and appreciate it. Acknowledge it and then decide what is needed.
Leading a simpler life can be done. It can be seen as a skill of doing less or more actually doing what is essential and appreciating what you have.
How can it look in everyday life
- When faced with criticism, a stoic asks, “is the criticism about something I can improve? If not, does it affect my character?” They then let go of the unnecessary upset and move on.
- If a plan falls through, the response is, “I did not control the outcome, however I can control how I respond to it.”
- When enjoying success, a stoic remembers that external achievements are fleeting and would rather focus on remaining virtuous regardless of their status.
Stoicism can be seen as being able to focus on the internal virtues, accepting what is out of your control and training the mind to remain calm and rational.
Simple tips to get started
- Small baby steps. Choose one stoic principle and focus on that each week.
- Keep a journal. Start writing each day in it reflecting on your day and how it went. Note down what you have noticed or changed. Have you applied any of the stoicism principles and how have they worked out? Keep it simple
- Read and keep learning. Our minds are meant to be used and it thrives on new material. Develop your critical thinking ability.
Have some fun and enjoy the simple things in everyday life. Stop and smell the roses.
