Indifference or healthy introspection? 8 Stoic Tips
Anna Jefferson
Mock writing sample
Jeff Koons
Today, the philosophy of stoicism is perceived as something gloomy and harsh. As if the Stoics are ready to endure all the hardships of life, and not try to overcome them. However, the essence of the teaching is how to see opportunities in difficult trials and how to be happy even in the most hopeless situation.
Stoicism is a philosophical school that existed until the end of the ancient world. The goal of the Stoics was to achieve inner harmony, overcome adversity with the help of self-control and awareness of their inner impulses.
Philosophy not only asks abstract and universal questions about the meaning of life and knowledge of the world, but can also help us overcome very specific life situations.
The dichotomy of control
“In life, first of all, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between what is in my power and what does not depend on me.” Epictetus
The dichotomy of control separates what we can control from what we cannot control. This is the basic principle of Stoicism: when we make our well-being dependent on things that are beyond our control, we doom ourselves to eternal dissatisfaction.
One of the most important lessons of Stoicism is the concentration of efforts on what depends on us. Worrying about things that are out of our control only leads to anxiety and frustration.
Feelings, thoughts, reactions
No person can control their feelings. But each of us can control our thoughts, direct them in a more positive and useful direction. If you see your feelings not as a problem, but simply as a fact, it will be easier to understand what to do with it.
Therefore, it is important to honestly analyze your feelings, their causes and decide for yourself how best to get along with them. Then we can control our reaction. This teaching is about calmness and even some composure.
But none of this will work if you're not being honest with yourself. None of the stoic principles will work while we deceive ourselves and indulge in some kind of fantasy.
A person to follow
There are people in every field to learn from. You can study their methods, life principles, success stories and mistakes. You can listen to their interviews, discover their best practices and apply them to your life. This applies to the professional sphere and personal qualities. And it's normal that over time, the people you want to look up to will change, because we grow and develop.
But it is important to understand that you need to remain critical. No matter how wonderful and almost holy this person is, you should not adopt the entire experience. Take note of what will be useful for you, and leave the rest to your idol. Remember that even Steve Rogers is sometimes wrong.
Is there life after failure?
You can spend many years just watching your project get criticized or even ignored. And instead of holding your head and feeling sorry for yourself, it's better to ask yourself, “What's wrong? What else can I do? What do I need to learn to do better?
Not many people know how badly Ed Sheeran sang long time ago. Or how many times Sylvester Stallone was turned down for roles because of his looks.
The recovery process after a fiasco is an invaluable practice, it is a new way of looking at things. No failure, no growth.
After reading, make
Reading educational books is especially useful. But truly effective reading can only be made by the ability to apply this knowledge in practice. Reading improves your mind, but the ultimate goal is to get results.
Think of educational books as a guide to action and making better decisions. For example, if you read books on personal development, you should not only feel inspired to make some abstract changes, but also be able to behave with dignity when you meet a rude client or encounter a boor on a tram.
Life has an ending
Is someone trolling in the comments? Is someone gossiping behind your back? Ex texted again? On Friday, you have to go to a family dinner with a second cousin who gets along with passive aggression towards you?
Every time you fill your head with such destructive things, every time you do something that is not just useless, but also unpleasant, you are wasting your finite life. This must be remembered as an axiom, and brought to a reflex. Am I willing to spend my time on this? Am I ready to waste energy, spoil my mood and then bother my head with this for some more time?
What I love most about Stoicism is the idea that you should always remember about death. Less comparison, less criticism, less consumption; more creativity, learning and action.
Discipline
Those who are unable to control themselves are controlled by others.
Philosophy without action is nothing.
Discipline allows us to deal with the challenges that inevitably come our way to being the best version of ourselves. The temptation to give up is always there, and only discipline can keep you on the right track.
The Stoics believed that any problem could be turned into an opportunity. Difficulties help us grow. Overcoming what we fear allows us to develop those qualities that we lack: the ability to self-knowledge, resilience, tolerance, perseverance, resourcefulness... The ability to do the right thing and not give up in the face of difficulties is critical to achieving goals.
Stop for a while
Living in the moment and being alone with yourself are habits that need to be developed. Try during the day to catch a moment, at least a short one, and just sit quietly. It doesn't matter where it is. Take a couple of deep breaths, switch your phone to vibrate, and reflect on what happened today.
While working, force yourself to be present in the present moment. Focus your attention on the current task, do it carefully, patiently and diligently. One way or another, you will understand how much this approach affects your creativity and the quality of life.
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Posted Mar 11, 2023
Mock writing sample 8 simple tips for every day. A stoic view of adversity that will help you succeed in whatever you do.
