A Step-by-Step Guide to Stoic Philosophy

Stoicism is a school of thought that originated in Greece about the year 300 B.C. This school of thought instructs its adherents to direct their attention toward the aspects of their lives over which they have some measure of influence in order to have the most fulfilling existence possible.

If you study stoic philosophy, you will learn how to have pleasure in life without constantly worrying about what might be taken away.

The reason for this is that Stoics think that the root of misery is when your happiness is tied to factors that you have no power to change.

They view that dependence as a form of involuntary servitude to themselves.

Stoics are often misunderstood, leading to the widespread belief that those who follow this philosophy are emotionless and incapable of experiencing joy.

Stoicism, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of being able to maintain composure and happiness in spite of external circumstances over which one has no control.

The following are some well-known Stoics:

1. Zeno of Citium was the first. Zeno, the first Stoic philosopher, is generally credited with establishing Stoicism in ancient Greece.

2. Marcus Aurelius. Emperor of the Roman Empire for a period of twenty years. He would write in his journals every night before bed. Meditations is the title of the book that was compiled from those journals. Perspectives are known to shift as a result of reading these journals.

3. Seneca. Seneca, sometimes known as Lucius Annaeus Seneca, was a Roman philosopher who served as a counselor to Emperor Nero. He is well-known for the pragmatic manner in which he examines the psychological aspects of human existence, consumerism, and human emotions.

4. Epictetus. Epictetus was born into servitude to his family. Immediately upon his emancipation from slavery, he established a school of thought. His book, The Enchiridion, contains a synopsis of his various philosophies and teachings.

The influential Stoics taught a number of core ideas that are, to this day, still considered valid.

The following are the five most important Stoic principles:

1. "To the extent that you are able, make the most of what you have control over, and accept the rest as it comes." There are certain things that depend on us, and there are other things that do not. - Epictetus

This is an important notion that recognizes that while we do have control over some things, we do not have control over other things.

The Stoic doctrines emphasize, over and again, the importance of concentrating one's attention on those aspects of one's life over which one has control and learning to accept those aspects of one's life over which one does not.

Take Action: Make it a habit to concentrate on the aspects of your life that are within your control, such as your thoughts, your judgments, and your actions.

The Philosophy of Stoicism - Massimo Pigliucci Video:

2. "If you are troubled by any external object, it is not the thing itself that is causing your distress; rather, it is your own evaluation of it." And it is within your power to cancel out this verdict right this moment. - Marcus Aurelius

Stoics put themselves through rigorous self-training to develop an unbiased, impartial perspective on the world around them.

When viewed through the lens of Stoicism, the actual occurrences themselves are neither good nor evil.

It is up to the individual Stoic to determine whether their response will be positive or negative.

Take Action: When you are feeling sad or furious, it is important to differentiate between facts and feelings. How can you adjust your perception of the circumstance so that you can get to a place of acceptance?

3. "How late it is to begin to live just when we must begin to cease living!" - Seneca

Seneca is credited with having written that one should focus on appreciating the present rather than imagining the future.

Stoicism teaches its students how to turn bad luck into good luck by accepting events for what they are in the present moment.

Take Action: Although it may feel counterintuitive at first, you should learn to accept everything that happens to you and then look for the good in it.

4. "Both during the day and at night, keep thoughts like this close at hand; write them down, read them out loud, and discuss them with both yourself and others." - Epictetus

Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus all maintained a habit of writing in diaries on a daily basis.

The daily practice of keeping a notebook is an integral aspect of Stoic philosophy, which continues to be practiced in modern times.

Stoicism encourages the practice of keeping a notebook as a means of reflecting on the last day and planning for the next.

Take Action: Make it a habit to write in a journal every day, whether in the morning or the evening. Take some time to think about the day before and make some plans for the day after that.

5. "There is a noble style of being poor, and whoever does not know it will never be rich." - Seneca

Seneca held the belief that living in poverty was a good way to test one's discipline. Seneca saw both prosperity and the temptations that came along with it as challenges to one's ability to exercise self-control.

Take Action: Think of one method that you can place yourself in a scenario that makes you feel uncomfortable. Have a day where you don't spend any money, give yourself an ice bath, or fast. Engage in an activity that will force you to step outside of your comfort zone.

Stoicism is a Philosophy of Finding the Good in All Things!

Stoicism is a philosophy that may be summed up in one word: acceptance.

Stoics think that their level of happiness is unaffected by the circumstances around them, and as a result, they view challenges as opportunities.

Even though some aspects of practicing stoicism, such as trying to find the good in every circumstance, may feel odd, doing so can make you feel more at ease and happy.

This is because you are not concentrating on the bad aspects of the scenario.