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.