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Category: Celebration & Contribution

  • How to implement Stoic Philosophy into your life

    How to implement Stoic Philosophy into your life

    In a world where most of our lives are on the internet and social media, the amount of followers, likes and comments we receive means more than it should. Your value is often placed on those numbers and who you are as a person can be reflected in what you have to offer others. Stoicism focuses on the opposite of those things. Stoicism isn’t about trying to gain control over what happens to us, as that is almost impossible, it is about having control over how it affects us. Some people view Stoics as emotionless, but in reality they live by words of acceptance and indifference. Emotions can often get in the way of unexpected events, and Stoicism teaches you to picture the worst and be content with it.

    Although Stoicism came to be in the early 3rd century BC, you can still live by this philosophy and apply it to your day to day life.

    1. Control your feelings. Although most things in life will be out of your control, things like your opinions, dreams and hopes are things that will forever be in your total control. Stoicism is about recognising and focusing on the things you can control, such as how you react to things. Unhappiness stems from the emotional response we choose to have, and not letting external events affect your internal state of mind will give you the power to be happy regardless of your circumstances.

    2. Be your own source of happiness. Seeking happiness from inanimate objects such as cars, a house or clothes will always be short lived. Cars always break down, natural disasters can wipe out an entire city in a matter of minutes and clothes are disregarded the moment they go out of fashion. The only thing that is permanent for you is yourself, so create a life that is worth living for you and only you.

    3. Keep your focus. Modern-day capitalism has created so many options for us when it comes to food, entertainment, or travel that our brains can barely process that much information. When you are presented with so many options and have to make a decision you either pursue multiple things at once or put off the decision entirely. Stoicism emphasises how necessary purposeful action is. Learn the difference between simply reacting to your circumstances and living intentionally.

    4. Learn to appreciate. A common practice among Stoics is ‘voluntary discomfort’. This can be simple things such as sleeping on the floor, eating bland food every day, or taking cold showers, these actions are very likely to increase your feelings of gratitude and make you aware of what you have and teach you to appreciate even the smallest things.

    5. Focus on what’s important. When it comes to work, or a project we often find ourselves judging our work based on the feedback and attention it was given. Instead, we should judge our work based on how much effort went into it. With the right mindset in place, your end goal could be postponed, not dead.

  • Cultural Differences

    Cultural Differences

    Cultural differences can be seen as various beliefs, behaviours, languages, practices and expressions that are considered one of a kind to the members of a certain ethnicity, race or national origin.
    While most members of society have more similarities than they do differences, these differences can result in issues that stem from culture clash.

    Every culture will have a certain way of doing things that are deemed polite, but will come off as rude and disrespectful in different cultures.

    Here are some examples:

    Feeding in Ethiopia.

    In Ethiopia, it is common to feed another person as a sign of love and friendship and it is deemed rude if you do not accept the food you are being offered.

    Nudity in Iceland.

    In Iceland nudity is quite a normal sight to behold. It applies to both men and women and it comes with no backlash.
    This doesn’t apply to swimming pools, in order to use them you must first shower while the pool guard verifies that you do so and put on your bathing suit. Only then can you enter the pool.

    Greetings in Japan.

    In Japan it is deemed appropriate to ask a person’s age. Due to the Japanese language being to diverse and complex, there are different words you can use that depend on the age and social status of the person you are talking to.

    Hand Gestures in Turkey.

    Hand gestures are seen as rude in Turkey, simple hand gestures that could be deemed as harmless could mean something entirely different and disrespectful in Turkey.

    Gift Giving in China.

    In China, giving people certain gifts can be offensive, such as gifting cut flowers, which is only done at funerals.
    Gifting somebody a clock is also deemed inappropriate and is supposed to enforce bad luck.

    Touching People’s Heads in Malaysia.

    Touching the head of a baby or an adult can come off as rude in Malaysia. Pointing your finger is also seen as a negative thing and should be avoided.

    Being Late in Tanzania.

    It is considered rude in Tanzania to show up on time for dinner, you must show up 15 minutes late at the earliest. And when you do arrive, do not mention that you can smell the food as that is also a rude gesture.

    Throwing Tomatoes in Spain.

    There is a festival in Spain called La Tomatina. It consists of people who are participating in the festival who throw tomatoes at each other for around 1 hour. Although it sounds like it could be harmful, there are rules you must adhere to:

    • Throwing or ripping t-shirts is not allowed.
    • Hard objects or bottles are not allowed.
    • The tomato must be squashed beforehand so it can’t be used to harm somebody.
    • When you hear the loud signal, this means the festival has come to an end and you must refrain from throwing anything you have in your hands.

    Traveling to new countries is always going to be an experience, but in some countries, there are things that are seen as inappropriate or rude that to us seem completely fine and normal. If you are traveling to a new country it is always best to gain as much information as you can before your visit so that you can avoid any misunderstandings with the residents of the country you are visiting.