Introducing the Benefits of Practicing Stoicism
In the hustle and bustle of the modern world, one may wonder how an ancient philosophy can be beneficial to the mind and soul. You may ask: why should I be interested in what a bunch of old, dead guys have to say? The answer is objective, but we believe the main benefit can be seen in our modern mental health intervention methods, which stem from Stoic philosophy and its writings.
Let us look at an example of a modern mental health intervention method. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most widely studied and effective method when it comes to treating depression and anxiety. Below, we will discuss the benefits of Stoic philosophy in treating depression and anxiety, and explain how Stoicism can help in your pursuit towards greater emotional, spiritual and intellectual freedom.
1. Stoicism Provides Us With the Tools to Self-Actualize
To not care about what other people think and say about you is one of most difficult things to achieve. We all want social approval, which is why we care about the opinions of others, especially from those whom we respect. Yet, to live on our own terms, without the need for outside approval, is essential if we are to become great in our own way.
Stoicism teaches us that the opinions of others are outside of our control and that the only thing we have control over is how we perceive the world and those around us. Gaining focus on what we can control and what we can’t control allows us to grow as human beings and to realize our greatest potentials. This is represented by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramid, where the peak of self-actualization can only be reached after fulfilling both our basic and psychological needs.
2. Stoicism Can Provide Us With a Full and Meaningful Existence
Death is an essential tenet of Stoic philosophy, and understanding this can give you a clearer insight into the Stoic mind. In their belief, living a life that is productive and free from distractions is the ultimate guide to a happy life. Remembering that you are going to die one day should be a great motivation to live a productive life, where potential is met by results. Looking at life and death like this can help you to push past momentary pain and discomfort to achieve your overall potential.
Remembering that death lurks around the corner should create a fire within all of us to succeed. Afterall, no one wants to die having accomplished and contributed nothing. The Stoic approach to death encourages us to embrace life wholeheartedly, which leads us to live a deeper and more meaningful existence.
3. Stoicism Teaches You Stability and Control
Stoic philosophy emphasises the importance of knowing what is and what is not under our control. For example, birth and death are not under your control, but the journey between is. Stoic philosophers understand this distinction, because believing we can control everything is not only impossible, but also dangerous for our state of mind. If one lets their frustrations consume them, they will lose their inherent peace, and an unpeaceful mind is like a country at war: broken and wasting its potential.
Losing self-control over things that you have no control over would be akin to selling yourself into the shackles of slavery. Knowing all the things that are not in your control does not mean you should give up. Rather, you should work harder on the things that you can control; although, you should do it without any expectations that you will achieve total and full control over that particular thing. Your happiness and peace should not be dependent on external conditions, as this naturally leads to mood fluctuations and instability. On the contrary, your happiness and peace should be dependent on internal conditions. Practicing Stoicism will allow you to accomplish this by harnessing your potential and focusing on what you do have control over.
4. Stoicism Encourages Us to Live in the Present
Stoicism also teaches us to avoid distractions. Think about it: the average human life expectancy is around 80 years old; we sleep for an average of 8 hours each day and are awake for 16 hours. This means we are asleep for one third of our lives, which means we only really live for 53 years. Now, imagine how much time we spend distracted by trivial things, such as social media, watching TV shows, doing house chores, etc. An educated guess would be half of our lives, which means 26 or 27 years. Then there are unforeseen circumstances, such as our own sickness, going through heartbreak, or grieving the death of a loved one. When all this is taken into consideration, overall, we have about 20 years of a meaningful life; just 20 years to accomplish something worthy of true existence. But if you train your mind to the ways of Stoicism and cut out unnecessary distractions, imagine how much more time you would have.
Moreover, Stoicism encourages us to embrace self-analysis. Meditating on our own thoughts is an opportunity for self-reflection and creative thinking. This is highly beneficial, as our ways of thinking influence our decisions, which then creates the patterns for our future behavior. Our thought processes should encourage us to create more meaning and to strive for better decisions and actions, as the only thing we can truly control is ourselves.
5. Stoicism Helps Us Overcome Our Anxieties
Anxiety is generally fueled by worrying about so many variables that we cannot control, or that are out of our control. This means we lose control over our state of mind, and thus we lose the ability to think properly and coherently. So, how do we overcome our anxieties? One way we can overcome our anxieties is through the Stoic approach of separating the things we can control from those that we cannot. By adopting this strategy, we can limit the power that anxiety has over us and regain control of our own minds. Through weakening the power of anxiety, we can gradually decrease our suffering and pain, and eventually acquire a tranquil state of being.
The Greek Stoic Epictetus explained this approach in greater and more eloquent detail:
Of things some are in our power, and others are not. In our power are opinion, movement toward a thing, desire, aversion [turning from a thing], and in a word, whatever are our own acts. Not in our power are the body, property, reputation, offices [magisterial power], and in a word, whatever are not our own acts.
Epictetus, The Manual or Enchiridion
