Stoicism is a philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and was founded by the philosopher Zeno of Citium. It is a system of ethics that emphasizes the importance of living by reason and virtue. It also teaches that self-control, wisdom, and acceptance of the present moment are the keys to happiness.
One of the central ideas of Stoicism is that we cannot control external events, but we can control how we react to them. This means that rather than attempting to change the world around us, we should stay focused on changing ourselves and how we respond to the challenges we face.
“To achieve freedom and happiness, you need to grasp this basic truth: some things in life are under your control, and others are not.”
– Epictetus
Another important aspect of Stoicism is the concept of virtue. According to Stoicism, virtue is the highest good, and the pursuit of virtue should be the primary goal in life. This includes virtues such as wisdom, justice, courage, and self-control.
Stoicism also emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and not getting caught up in regrets about the past or anxiety about the future. This is achieved through the practice of mindfulness and the acceptance of whatever comes our way, whether it is good or bad.
This reminds me of a movie called Everything Everywhere all at once. I resonated a lot with Jobu Tupaki. I believe it was a conflict between nihilism and stoicism. Nihilism was of greater help to survive during dark periods. Though, It didn’t give me hope, it did give me something to cling onto.
I am not here to argue about which side of the philosophy is better. Both have their own perspectives and approach. In the end, it all comes down to deciding the purpose or meaning of life.
I believe that Stoicism kind of gives hope, a proactive approach, focuses on the present moment, and cherishes the few good moments that happened in life. It could be because I am currently reading the book “The Obstacles in the Way.”
“In life, we can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it. That is the essence of stoicism.”
– Ryan Holiday
I started exploring Stoicism recently and I would say, I am a newbie in the world of stoicism and trying to practice it. Let’s see what it takes to destroy the bagel. Ending this with a meme.
Cheers!
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