It may seem surprising to some people that a type of philosophy developed centuries ago will experience a resurgence in recent years. Stoicism, a type of Greco-Roman philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in the 4th century BCE, is currently one of the more popular movements that are earning more and more fans these days. Already, online communities dedicated to the practice of Stoicism are popping up on the Internet. But what is it exactly and how relevant is it to the day-to-day challenges of modern life? Let’s define Stoic mindset to truly understand its merits.
What is the Stoic Mindset?
Stoicism is a branch of philosophy that came out of the Hellenistic period. It exhorts its practitioners to develop discipline through resilience and confidence through calmness. By learning these attributes, a Stoic acquires the most important skills to thrive in life, regardless of what happens, whether it’s good or bad.
Contrary to what most people think, Stoicism does not encourage the lack or neglect of emotions. What it promotes is the pursuit of perseverance and self-mastery, which ultimately leads to wisdom.
Stoicism is not just a philosophy for its practitioners but a way of life. Modern-day practitioners consider this as a type of psychological discipline that aids in self-transformation. This is merely a means to achieve the ideal self – a wise, mature, and fully-developed human being.
To summarize, here are some of the major components of a Stoic mindset:
-Accept that all your emotions come from inside you. Everything that happens outside of your person causes you to feel emotions. However, keep in mind that these emotions come from within and that whatever happens is simply something that you react to even when you do not have to. Ultimately, your thoughts are what cause you to feel stressed. By acknowledging that your emotions are the reason you feel the way you do, you avoid blaming outside forces for the condition you find yourself in.
-Learn to distinguish between what is and what is not in your control. That way, you never encounter unhappiness when you experience things that you cannot change. Basically, you acknowledge these things and let go so you can focus on the things you can change.
-Failure brings growth. Failure, like growing old, is a fact of life. According to the Stoic mindset, failure is merely something that allows you to grow and develop. Recovering from failure is an experience that can ultimately help you achieve your best self. It is simply not something you dwell on.
To its many practitioners, Stoic mindset is a form of self-discipline that is helpful in mastering how the mind works to master oneself. In this way of thinking, it is not the past or the future that matters but the present, during which one can work to become a fully formed human being.