Stoic wisdom is very unique. It is quite easy to understand, but the difficulty revolves around the question of how and when to practice it? Do you need to be stringent about it? Should you practice it twice a week, or maybe every day? I will try to dismantle all the blurry areas surrounding this question. I will present you four Stoic motivational techniques which you can apply whenever as your everyday guide. Let’s start!
1. There are certain things you can’t control
I suppose we have all met with such situations in our lives. When we are powerless, we often blame others or the whole situation which surrounds us. Then, anxiety takes hold and we succumb to fear and a further feeling of powerlessness. How to avoid that?
It is quite simple. Don’t shift the blame to other things or people, instead, ask yourself: “Why am I worrying about something I cannot control? According to Stoics, the problem usually lies in our mind (or soul), and we should pay more attention to our inner state and not on what we cannot change about a situation.
2. More thinking, less feeling
How many times have you overreacted to some event or other people? According to Stoics, emotions can blur the line between things which are in our power and those which are not. There are numerous situations, where we regret our actions because our emotions led us astray. Thinking before you act is a very important rule to strengthen your mind. It helps cast light on boundaries on which you can and cannot cross.
If you are in a difficult situation, try to think about it from many angles. Who caused it? Can you do something about it? Does it truly impact you in any important way? And what is truly important to you? All these questions can help cool-off the situation presented in your mind, and you will see that it is not as catastrophic as it seemed if you had succumbed to your emotions at first.
3. Live immediately! Seize the moment
I find it suiting to quote Seneca on this one:
Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately. – On shortness of life
The message is simple: procrastination can ruin your life. Find something you want to live for, that makes you truly happy, and do it today! Remember, there is no guaranteed tomorrow for any of us, and the past is behind us. Don’t look behind too much, because you risk getting stuck in past regrets or faded glory. Neither is good for your life “NOW”.
4. Other minds are not your problem
We live in times where anyone can express their opinion on the internet, social media, etc. That is great, and we don’t have problems with that. But, it is often the case that those opinions can hit you really hard. There are also cases where you “fall-in-love” with some opinion, and you follow it without question. This situation is also very dangerous as quite often, we are not aware of the influence of others. After we fill our own mind with others’ thoughts, our mind is sadly lost.
Stoics recommend you to meditate, to cleanse your mind of everything that isn’t truly yours. For example, Epictetus – one of the greatest stoics – advocated monologues or conversations with oneself, which should be practiced every day in his opinion. Ask yourself “What do I truly want?” and after that “Why do I want that? Am I influenced by others or is this really my desire?”
This should help provide you with clarity for your actions.
Try to apply these techniques, and I am sure results will be visible. You will be able to appreciate yourself more, because instead of wasting time and energy on things you can’t impact, you will bring much more quality to your own life.
