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Life’s got its ups and downs, right?
One minute you’re riding high, and the next, you’re blindsided by some out-of-nowhere challenge.
Between battling writer’s block and the unpredictable hurdles of running a business, I’ve had my fair share of low points.
But you know what’s been my secret weapon?
A bit of ancient wisdom: Stoicism.
These seven Stoic gems have changed my game, and they might just do the trick for you, too.
1. Recognize what’s in your control (and what’s not)
“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control.” – Epictetus
One of the foundational principles of Stoicism is the distinction between things we can control and things we can’t.
How many times have you stressed out over traffic, a delayed flight, or someone else’s opinion? And what good did that fretting do?
The Stoics offer a simple solution: Focus your energy only on things you can change and accept the ones you can’t.
When I encountered setbacks in my writing or challenges in my business, understanding this principle became a game-changer. Instead of losing sleep over a bad review or a deal that fell through, I shifted my attention to improving my craft and refining my business strategies – things I could influence.
By embracing this Stoic wisdom, not only did I save myself a ton of unnecessary stress, but I became more efficient and effective in my endeavors.
Remember: every moment spent worrying about things outside our control is a moment lost from working on things we can actually impact. Adopt this Stoic mindset, and watch your resilience skyrocket.
2. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth
“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” – Seneca
Life’s road isn’t always smooth; bumps and detours are guaranteed.
But while some might see these as mere inconveniences or even calamities, Stoics view challenges in a different light: as opportunities to grow stronger.
Each challenge we encounter is an opportunity to test our mettle, to learn, and to become better.
When we shift our perspective and see difficulties as chances to develop our skills, resilience, and character, we’re not just surviving—we’re thriving. And here’s the bonus: the more challenges we face and overcome, the more confident we become in handling future obstacles.
So the next time you’re staring down a challenge, whether it’s a tough client or writer’s block, remember Seneca’s wisdom.
Welcome the difficulty, learn from it, and let it mold you into a more resilient and capable individual.
3. Practice negative visualization: prepare for the worst, hope for the best
“He robs present ills of their power who has perceived their coming beforehand.” – Seneca
This might sound a bit counterintuitive at first. Why would anyone want to visualize negative outcomes? Isn’t positive thinking the key?
Well, Stoicism teaches us a nuanced approach: Prepare mentally for potential challenges, not to be pessimistic, but to be better equipped to handle them.
Throughout my endeavors, there have been plenty of uncertainties. Projects might fail, articles could be rejected, or market dynamics could shift.
By periodically considering these potential setbacks, I found myself less surprised and more prepared when they came. It’s like having a mental rehearsal for life’s many “What if?” scenarios.
By anticipating potential problems, we can craft solutions in advance or, at the very least, brace ourselves for the impact, making recovery swifter and smoother.
So, try it out: visualize a setback in your current project or venture. Now, think about how you’d navigate it.
When you’re prepared for the storm, you won’t be knocked over by the wind.
4. Reflect daily
“Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.” – Seneca
The busy whirlwind of life, especially for ambitious folks, can make days blend into one another. But Stoics have a remedy: daily reflection.
The idea is simple but profound—take a moment each day to pause and ponder the events, decisions, and actions you’ve taken.
I’ve found this habit incredibly grounding in my dual roles as a writer and business owner. Every evening, I spend a few minutes dissecting the day’s happenings: What went well? Where did I falter? What lessons can I draw from today to make tomorrow even better?
This ritual has not only helped me course-correct swiftly but has also fortified my resilience by reminding me of challenges I’ve overcome and the progress I’ve made.
The beauty of this Stoic practice is that it doesn’t require hours; just a few dedicated minutes can offer clarity, focus, and a renewed sense of purpose.
By treating each day as a “separate life,” as Seneca suggests, we become more present, more intentional, and over time, more resilient against life’s unpredictable tides.
5. Detach from external validation: your value isn’t determined by others
“I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than on the opinions of others.” – Marcus Aurelius
In our hyper-connected age, the temptation to seek external validation is more potent than ever.
Whether it’s the number of likes on a social media post, praise from peers, or achieving societal markers of success, it’s easy to tie our self-worth to external metrics. But Stoicism warns against such dependency.
If I anchored my worth to every piece of feedback or every fluctuating metric, I’d be perpetually tossed about in a sea of insecurity. Instead, Stoicism taught me to root my value in my own principles, actions, and self-awareness.
This doesn’t mean ignoring feedback or living in a bubble of self-affirmation. It means distinguishing between constructive criticism (which can be valuable for growth) and the fleeting opinions of the masses.
6. Cultivate inner contentment
“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.” – Epictetus
A pervasive myth in modern society is that happiness and contentment come from external achievements. The bigger house, the promotion, the flashy car—surely these are the keys to happiness, right?
Stoicism, however, flips this notion on its head, suggesting that true contentment is an inside job.
For me, it was easy to fall into the trap of believing that the next big break or successful venture will be the golden ticket to lasting happiness. But I’ve learned that such milestones, while gratifying, offer only transient joy.
The Stoics argue that genuine, enduring contentment arises from a serene and accepting mind, regardless of external circumstances.
By cultivating a mindset that finds peace within—by valuing our own virtues, progress, and integrity above fleeting external successes—we anchor ourselves in a deeper, more resilient form of happiness.
This Stoic approach ensures that even when life throws curveballs or when goals remain just out of reach, our inner contentment remains unshaken, providing a wellspring of strength and motivation.
7. Embrace mortality
“Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day… The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” – Seneca
Perhaps one of the most profound and provocative principles of Stoicism is the idea of ‘Memento Mori’, which translates to “remember you must die.” Far from being morbid, this concept serves as a potent reminder of life’s impermanence, urging us to live fully and authentically.
In the throes of life, it’s easy to get bogged down by trivial matters, to delay our passions or procrastinate on our aspirations. But when we keep the brevity of life at the forefront of our minds, priorities swiftly come into focus.
What truly matters?
What would we regret not doing?
It grants us the resilience to bypass fleeting setbacks, understanding that in the grand scheme of life, only a few things truly matter.
Embrace the Memento Mori philosophy, and you’ll find a renewed zest for life, coupled with the resilience to face its inevitable challenges.
The bottom line
Life, in all its unpredictable glory, will undoubtedly serve up challenges that test our mettle, shake our foundations, and sometimes even bring us to our knees.
Yet, these Stoic principles, ancient as they might be, offer a timeless roadmap to resilience and contentment. They remind us that while we can’t always control the world around us, we have absolute power over our perceptions, reactions, and inner peace.
By embedding these teachings into our daily lives, we armor ourselves against adversity.
Remember, it’s not the external events but our response to them that defines our journey.
Embrace Stoicism, and you’ll find yourself weathering life’s storms and, sometimes, just sometimes dancing in the rain.
Has Stoicism influenced your life?
Drop a comment below if you have any insights to share with fellow readers.