One might ask how can you apply stoicism in the modern world?
What is it like to be a Stoic, and how can one achieve this goal?
The answer is quite simple: Through training.
You might be familiar with physical exercise, and how hard or even boring some can be. But, I’m sure you feel better after you stretch your body and expend some energy. Your self-esteem rises and you’re happier with yourself. This is what training is. It’s often tedious, but you always enjoy its fruits.
The same might happen when you decide to use your mind to practice stoicism. Many Stoics shared their wisdom on the topic with us, below I’ll try to showcase the most effective ways that show you how to implement stoicism.
Spend More Time With Yourself:
This world we live in is quite fast, and we’re constantly bombarded with things that occupy our mind. Love, jobs, denial, rejection, thinking of others and more. These are the numerous topics that occupy our minds. The truth is, we often don’t reflect on those issues, rather we overvalue them.
Think about how many times you were stressed by some exam or what others thought about you. For Stoics, this is not a productive way to perceive the life around us. The point is in looking inwards, and this can only be achieved when you are alone with yourself.
Try to sit silently in a room and ask some basic questions to yourself like:
Why am I stressed about this so much?
How can that stress help me in any way?
Can I affect how others perceive me?
Why am I trying so hard?
As you can see, all those questions have one thing in common, and that is monologue.
Monologue is often forsaken, because a truthful conversation with the self is hard. It can be very tedious in the beginning. Mainly because you won’t find answers immediately, but practice patience, and trust that it can be very rewarding. Through the practice of monologues, you’ll be able to obtain self-worth and you’ll connect yourself to the world differently.
Remember, it all starts with you.
Realize That You Can’t Stop The Rain
We often cry and worry about things that are beyond our control. The rain will keep on falling for example, but it’s your attitude towards this rain that matters. How much does it affect you negatively? The first thing that comes to my mind is the song Ironic by Alanis Morissette, in which she sings about how life can bring unexpected events and how they hold opportunities.
Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything’s okay and everything’s going right,
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything’s gone wrong and everything blows up in your face
We can’t stop the rain, but we can view it as a shower.
This would be the Stoic answer for when it comes to managing hardships we can’t change. In other words, your mind is your playground, and its quality depends on your perception. More importantly, fine perception can only be achieved through practice. How you view a situation depends only on your mind, and this is where your attention should go.
Be Kind:
It is well known that most Stoics were cosmopolitan. They believed that each human being is equal and gifted with reason. Therefore, they encouraged kindness and love. Especially because this world can be harsh for everyone, this is why doing good to others allows us to heal our personal and collective wounds.
Try not to judge others on their choices and nature, rather listen to what others have on their mind, without judgement or fear. Remember, the only control you have is the one over your own mind. By listening you widen that range of control by learning more about the world, and what you can control.
