Recently, I stumbled upon Stoicism when studying about buddhism and other eastern mystic religions. Stoicism is very powerful and depression inducing (for some people) way of life adopted by ancient Greek people.
Stoicism is a branch of philosophy mostly associated with Greek Philosopher Seneca. What's big deal about this kind of philosophy? you may ask!! Certainly, it's relevant to our lives if you think about it.
There is lot we can take away from Stoicism and apply to our daily lives. We all want happiness and peace. don't we? Everything in life we do is executed with an end goal of happiness in mind. So, Where does stoicism fit in our mundane life? Well, controlling emotions, letting go of expectations, fear and unhappiness and finally understanding that nothing matters in this grand universe.
Basically, Stoicism is a set of techniques to get the most fulfillment out of life and lower the periods of sadness or discomfort.
According to Webster dictionary, Stoicism refers to "The quality or behavior of a person who accepts what happens without complaining or showing emotion.
It asserts that men should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity.
Stoicism tells us that no happiness can be ever permanent if it’s rooted in external & changeable things. Our relationships, material things, money, job & loved ones are not static. They are subject to change over time.
The Stoic philosopher Epictetus, who was born a slave and crippled at a young age, wrote: “Where is the good? In the will…If anyone is unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone.”
While it’s natural to cry out at pain, the Stoic works to stay indifferent to everything that happens on the outside, to stay equally happy in times of triumph and disaster. It offers freedom from the emotions and provides mastery of emotions, because Stoicism recognizes that fear or greed or grief only enter our minds when we willingly let them in.
Stoicism teaches us that, before we try to control events, we have to control ourselves first. Our attempts to exert influence on the world are subject to chance, disappointment, and failure–but control of the self is the only kind that can succeed 100% of the time.
Stoicism emphasizes the compliance with laws of nature and fate and applies universal laws to our individual life. It suggests "Virtue is sufficient for happiness".
To achieve true happiness, you must control your passions. Control your emotions at all times through the right assent of external and internal impressions - this is the Stoic's famous principle.
Lead a plain and simple life. Stoicism advocates non-materialism. You should always be familiar with poverty, just in case you became poor.
Be happy in all circumstances. Stoic's advocated the idea that no matter what happens to you, you are still happy;
Prepare and be familiar with death for your life is short.
Believe everything is constantly changing and humans were unimportant; just tiny parts of nature, it is therefore necessary for you to accept fate without fuss. It is beautifully articulated in the following stoic quotation
"Or is it your reputation that's bothering you? But look at how soon we're all forgotten. The abyss of endless time that swallows it all. The emptiness of those applauding hands."
Quotations from Stoic Philosophers:
- "Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of men's desires, but by the removal of desire."
- "Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them."
- "Permit nothing to cleave to you that is not your own; nothing to grow to you that may give you agony when it is torn away."
- "Get rid of the judgment, get rid of the 'I am hurt,' you are rid of the hurt itself."
- "The point is, not how long you live, but how nobly you live."
- "That which Fortune has not given, she cannot take away."
- "Let Nature deal with matter, which is her own, as she pleases; let us be cheerful and brave in the face of everything, reflecting that it is nothing of our own that perishes."
