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 Posted - 12/05/2013 : 18:30:48
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Marcus Aurelius (121 AD – 180 AD) was a Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher
HOW TO LIVE AS A MODERN STOIC
(Modified From "Everyday Stoic")
“Let me give you, though, this one piece of advice: refrain from following the example of those whose craving is for attention, not their own improvement, by doing certain things which are calculated to give rise to comment on your appearance or way of living generally.”
~ Seneca Epistula V ad Lucilium
Stoicism was a school of ancient Greek philosophy founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC. Stoic philosophers taught that the best way to judge an individual was not by what the person said, but by how that person behaved. Over the centuries, Stoicism became very popular and even an emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180), became a popular Stoic philosopher.
Stoicism flourished until the coming of Christianity. The Christian Roman Emperor Justinian closed down the Athenian Academy in 529AD, and expelled all of its philosophers and teachers. This marked the beginning of Europe's anti-intellectual Dark Ages, and the end of the academies teaching Stoic philosophy.
Fortunately, a few of the writings of the Stoic philosophers have survived. From these writings, we have a glimpse into how Stoicism suggested we live a good life.
Outwardly conform to society
Stoicism teaches that our appearance should be modest, but well groomed. There’s no need to wear expensive clothes, but that doesn’t mean we should wear rags and be unkempt. Simplicity doesn’t mean neglect!
It’s not necessary, or even advisable, to torture ourselves and purposefully be unclean and miserable; to adopt a diet that is beyond plain and borders on revolting.
The Stoic philosopher, Seneca, taught that we should live in a compromise between the philosophical ideal and the popular morality of our society.
Be better than the mob
Stoicism teaches that we should live a simple life that while different than those around us, is not opposed to their way of life. If our friends notice how our attitude towards life has improved and we seem to be really happy, they’re going to be more likely to inquire what has changed and try Stoicism for themselves. If we repel and alienate those around us they’re far less likely to wish to imitate us. Our friends should be able to admire our philosophy of life and just as important be able to understand it.
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Posted - 12/05/2013 : 19:23:08
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Seneca (4 BC – AD 65) Stoic Philosopher Who Was Forced To Commit Suicide By Emperor Nero
ON BEING A MINIMALIST STOIC
(From Everyday Stoic)
”What a vast number of statues, of columns that support nothing, but are built for decoration, merely in order to spend money!” ~ Seneca, epistula LXXXVI ad Lucilium
Minimalism and Stocism!? You may think that they do not and cannot be placed together, but I feel they fit together like a jig-saw puzzle. Reading Roman authors and Roman history, you may notice that the Romans looked back at the past with reverence and awe; it is a common theme that their fore-fathers lived much simpler and were healthier, more virtuous and stronger than in the present. Thus they argue, we should make an effort to live a life that more closely resembled the past.
Minimalism today is a way of living where our material possessions do not maintain the central importance that our society tells us they should. We are bombarded with advertisements and gadgets which promise happiness and success, but rarely add more to our lives than increased debt. I do not propose that you live the life of an ascetic monk by any means (unless you want to), but with a couple simple steps you may notice a large increase in contentment and happiness. Remember, companies would like you to believe that what you purchase shows who you are, but we have seen that the Stoics believed to not worry what others think.
“I came to despise riches, not because of their uselessness, but because of their pettiness.” ~ Seneca, epistula CX ad Lucilium
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Posted - 12/05/2013 : 19:50:45
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FIVE BENEFITS OF MINIMALIST STOICISM
(From Everyday Stoicism)
Stoic Minimalism is not concerned with how many possessions you own, but stresses that they should be enjoyed in the present because the future is uncertain.
“I am not, mind you, against your possessing them, but I want to ensure that you possess them without tremors; and this you will only achieve in one way, by convincing yourself that you can live a happy life even without them, and by always regarding them as being on the point of vanishing.”
~ Seneca, Letter XVIII
Today I’ll show some of the benefits of Stoic Minimalism. In my next post I’ll show you some simple steps you can take to give minimalism a try.
1. Less Clutter = Clear Mind
The wise man then followed a simple way of life – which is hardly surprising when you consider how even in this modern age he seeks to be as little encumbered as he possibly can.
~ Seneca, Letter XC
Having fewer possessions allows one to focus on what is truly important in life. Possessions require constant care. They need to be updated, cleaned, guarded from theft and sometimes kept in pristine condition in specially built cases so they hopefully will increase in value someday. No matter how well-ordered your house, they no doubt take up valuable space in your mind. If you are able to limit your possessions or limit their importance you may free up both time and energy.
In the post, Day in the Life, I tried to show how peaceful a Stoic’s life can be. At the end of the day everything is in its place so upon waking it is possible to relax with a cup of coffee and not worry about stepping on toys or cleaning up the house because it is in shambles.
2. Economics
For men in a state of freedom had thatch for their shelter,
while slavery dwells beneath marble and gold.
~ Seneca, Letter XC
How would you like to have more money!? The economics of Stoic Minimalism is fairly simple. If you buy fewer things, you have more money for other choices. These can be used to create an emergency fund in case of troubles, trips or adventures with loved ones or simply to pay off debts that have accumulated before undertaking a minimalist lifestyle. How often did we purchase items to impress others or out of envy? Often times Stoic Minimalism allows one to purchase a few higher quality / more expensive goods than a multitude of cheap items. Valuing quality over quantity also has the side effect of having to replace items less often, so over the long run they may be the cheaper option if you have the ability to purchase them.
One of the paradoxes of Stoicism is that although the Stoics taught followers to live simply and to not be worried about possessions, many of them became quite successful and in turn wealthy. This may have been due in part because they did not squander their money on luxuries like many of their contemporaries.
Note that Seneca was averse to getting oneself into debt. Why? If you owe other people money, you do not actually have ownership of the goods until the debt is paid. While paying the debt you also have some freedom taken away… you have to do whatever is necessary to pay off the debt, creating the necessity of having a job you may hate. That will be another post for another day.
3. Less Choice = More Freedom
Look at the number of things we buy because others have bought them or because they’re in most people’s houses.
~ Seneca, Letter CXXIII
How can having less stuff equal more freedom?
• Clothes
Have a limited number of choices each morning can drastically cut the time and energy to decide what to wear. I’ve experimented with having one shirt for each day of the week and found it quite successful. If you’re able to layer your garments, you can create even more looks with minimal garments.
• House
If you are willing to own fewer possessions you are also able to live in a smaller house, which also means you are able to choose from a wider selection of houses.
• Gadgets
Gadgets are supposed to make our lives easier, but how often to they turn into another chore? They need to be charged, updated, checked and so on. After some time we can even become addicted; we feel like we have to use them. Facebook is a great example. It’s a great way to connect with friends and family, but how often do you feel a need to check it. Drop all your gadgets for a weekend (or longer) and you may experience that longing vanish. My family has recently dropped television. It was strange for a couple days not watching the latest shows or up-to-date news, but that’s passed and I no longer feel a need for it. It’s given me more freedom to do as I please!
4. Enjoyment
The essentials are acquired with little bother; it is the luxuries that call for toil and effort.
~ Seneca, Letter XC
If we are able to enjoy our present possessions and not worry about what may happen in the future, it is possible to gain great contentment. While I was camping, even when the storm was upon us and the possibility of my tent breaking was very real, I was still having a blast! After all, it’s not everyday you can get that close to an example of nature’s power and come away unscathed.
Possessions are to be used and enjoyed (within moderation). Why worry about what may happen or who make take them away? After all, the fates are fickle!
5. Less stress
It is not the man who has too little who is poor, but the one who hankers after more.
~ Seneca, Letter II
Have you ever met someone who cannot see all the wonderful things that they possess, be it possessions, friends or even health? Notice how much stress they always seem to be in because another person is enjoying something they currently do not possess. How many people work long hours just to be able to afford a few more luxuries. Notice on their death bed that no one wishes they worked harder or bought more stuff while alive.
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Posted - 12/05/2013 : 20:58:43
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GROUNDLESS FEARS
(From Everyday Stoic)
Groundless fear #1: The Unknown.
“There are more things, Lucilius, likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” ~ Seneca, Letter to Lucilius XIII
Fear of the unknown is very common. It is impossible for us to know everything that may happen, especially in the future. We should not let that impede us on our journey. How often do we spend time worrying about what might happen before it occurs and may never? Live in the moment; tackle the challenges that are present and if the worst arrives take that on in due time.
One method to help conquer the fear of the unknown is to write down your goal with all the steps you need obtain it. This gives you some expectations of what may happen. As you make progress, occasionally review and revise them until you are able to complete your task.
Groundless fear #2: Feedback.
“Remember that it is not he who reviles you or strikes you, who insults you, but it is your opinion about these things as being insulting.” ~ Epictetus, Enchiridion XX
With any vocation you choose in life, there those who will give praise and criticize. This is especially common, unfortunately, if you wish to have an online presence. The Stoics would recommend that you consider where the praise or criticism comes. If someone criticizes you and they are correct, it is more of a blessing than insult because they are helping you. If they give you hate mail, consider them to be petty, envious fools who are not worth any of your energy. The best response to this type of criticism is no response at all. Dealing with criticism this way takes a fair bit of practice, but over time it is very freeing and a great tool to improve yourself.
Groundless fear #3: Failure.
“Apply careful investigation, considering how our affairs actually stand, and not what men say of them; you will then understand that evils are more likely to help us than to harm us. For how often has so-called affliction been the source and the beginning of happiness!” ~ Seneca, Letter to Lucilius CX
You’re going to fail sometimes. Who cares!? If you never fail that is a clear sign that you have not pushed yourself enough. Often times it is the ability to fall flat on your face and pick yourself up that is the most important step of becoming a success. Ask anyone successful in business; we learn more lessons from our failures than successes. With success, there’s no reason to investigate why it worked, but with failure we can learn why it failed and hypothesize what we can do differently next time.
Groundless fear #4: Success.
“Forward, as occasion offers. Never look round to see whether any shall not see it [...]. Be satisfied with success in even the smallest matter, and think that even such a result is no trifle.” ~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IX, 29
What is success? Success to me is probably different than to you. Success can be ephemeral if we let it. Instead of comparing yourself against others, learn to become content with what you have. Seneca relates that if we live according to nature we can never be poor, but if we compare ourselves to other people’s opinions we can never become rich.
Some people fear success itself. Don’t be afraid to choose yourself! We are each uniquely gifted to help the world in our own ways.
Often times Seneca closed his letters to Lucilius with a short quote for meditation. I thought this quote nicely describes those who go on to become successful.
“And yet life, Lucilius, is really a battle. For this reason those who are tossed about at sea, who proceed uphill and downhill over toilsome crags and heights, who go on campaigns that bring the greatest danger, are heroes and front-rank fighters; [...]” ~ Seneca, Letter to Lucilius XCVI |
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Posted - 12/05/2013 : 21:08:27
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STOIC ADVICE FOR OVERCOMING ENVY
(From The Everyday Stoic)
Envy is incredibly common, and it’s even more distracting. We are all guilty of envying someone else: a coworker wins a promotion that you were up for, a friend receives a comment that you felt you deserved instead, or you simply see someone drive by in a nice car. Accompanying envy is often a feeling that you were more worthy than them, that you have been dealt a personal injustice. These feelings are harmful and counterproductive and they can consume us unless we refocus on what is important. How should a Stoic respond when envy rears its ugly head?
The “sovereign percept” of Stoicism is that some things are under our control and others are not. And all suffering – including envy – results from the struggle to control things we will never be able to control. How can we overcome envy? Two ways: first, we should realize that we are angry about something we cannot control; second, we should focus on the things we can control.
First, notice the benefits you covet might not have truly been open to you. And it would be foolish to envy someone for gaining something you were never capable of receiving, just as it would be foolish to wish that you had been born at a different time and place.
Remember that you must behave in life as at a dinner party. Is anything brought around to you? Put out your hand and take your share with moderation. Does it pass by you? Don’t stop it. Is it not yet come? Don’t stretch your desire towards it, but wait until it reaches you. (Handbook 15.)
Second, if those things really were open to you, realize that the person who has those things has traded something to get them; they have paid a price for what they have. And it’s a price you might not have been willing to pay yourself (Discourses 3:15). Does someone have a nice car or house? Presumably they work long hours, and perhaps in a job you wouldn’t be happy in. Does someone have a position of power? Presumably because they have spent their adult lives politicking and ingratiating themselves to others.
Third, envy is a waste of time since it distracts you from your own projects. “How great a rest from labor he gains who does not look to what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only to what he himself is doing” (Meditations 4:18). This is the real harm of envy – that it takes you out of the present moment and derails your focus on your own goals. Remember your ultimate goal should be perfecting your nature as a rational being and directing your effort toward the benefit of all people. Someone else’s getting a promotion doesn’t stop you one bit from accomplishing either of these.
In fact, dealing with envy is an opportunity to demonstrate virtue. You cannot control the promotion, or the compliment, or whatever it may be, especially now that it is in the past. What you can control is your response – and there is always the opportunity to act virtuously in our responses. (indirect source – Meditations 2:9)
Which virtue is appropriate for this circumstance? I suggest graciousness: cultivating a sincere and generous happiness for the erstwhile subject of your envy. Realize that, of course, what someone else has doesn’t make you better or worse off. This realization is helped by reminding yourself that whatever they have is not truly good or desirable, and that what is good is always within your power to achieve.
Guest Author: Ryan Jenkins
Ryan Jenkins is a doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder and a practicing Stoic. His favorite aphorism is Meditations 8:59: “People come into the world for the sake of one another. Therefore, either teach them or bear with them.”
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Posted - 12/05/2013 : 21:26:07
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DO YOU HAVE CONTROL?
(From Everyday Stoic)
“There are things within our power, and there are things which are beyond our power.” ~ Epictetus
In one sentence Epictetus sums up one of the most important lessons of Stoicism! No matter what we tell ourselves, we do not have the ability to control everything regarding our life. Epictetus gives us examples of what is in our power and what is outside our influence.
Things we can control:
- Our opinions
- Our goals
- Our desires
- Our fears
- Our actions
Things we cannot control:
- Our body
- Our reputation
- Our property
- Our office in life
- Things that are not our actions
Stoics are taught to regard the things that we can control as worthy of our consideration and those things that we cannot control as not worth our effort to consider. In fact, if you live your life concerned with those things we cannot control you will be more a slave to others than free. Money, power and influence only give the illusion of control, but can easily be taken away. You may already notice that the things we can control are internal, while those things we cannot control are external to ourselves. When we limit our energy to those things we can control, we no longer waste energy; thus we have the ability to make great gains in our personal life.
Practising Stoicism also builds a foundation for a strong will, unwavering (personal) moral ethics and self-resiliency.
In the changing world we live in, much as in the day of the Roman Stoics, these traits will help Modern Stoics not only survive but thrive. Even though reputation and titles were not important to them, Stoics were ranked amongst the highest officials in the Roman government; Seneca became an advisor to his former student Nero (besides being a playwright and real estate developer), Cato the Younger was a Senator (among other titles), and Marcus Aurelius was regarded as the last great emperor!
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Posted - 06/01/2016 : 15:36:51
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Stoic Meditation
Meditation With A Purpose
The Stoic philosophers taught that we should put aside time every day to think about, or meditate on, the most important things in life: cooperation, justice, wisdom, self-control and courage.
Unlike popular forms of modern meditation; Stoic meditation focused on asking every day what could be done to improve oneself and the world.
I have created a modern form of these Stoic daily meditations (above). I believe that asking ourselves these daily questions can dramatically improve our life functioning.
Phil Long MD
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