As the generations get further and further away from the times of Stoicism, we're finding it harder and harder to abide by the philosophies taught by the great Stoic minds such as Marcus Aurelius.
This current time has completely dismissed the philosophy, which has only led people into despair.
As though their soul is slowly declining over the years from negative circumstances due to a lack of wisdom and understanding.
Life's purpose isn't meant to strip the color away from your spirit.
It is an experience within itself, and it must be treated like so.
There can be no good without evil, and no evil without good.Just like everything else in this life, there must be a balance.
People deny this fact as though it is not the truth, when you widen the perspective of the common person's problems, it turns out to be a lack of acceptance of that truth.
But how do we reach that level of acceptance, through conscious decision of course?
Mindfulness, and awareness of who we are and what we would like to become.
Life will always happen to us, there is no avoiding it.
But to give up in the face of a negative circumstance is a response that the universe will adhere to.
Creating a cycle of such behavior can become detrimental to your entire future.
This is why it is important to create a habit of internal peace in the face of challenges, understanding that you will give your best responses to situations when you are not guided by your emotions solely.
The Stoics believed that neither the past nor the future held the keys to inner peace.
But the present moment is where the answer lies.
The past and future, according to Aurelius, are mental constructs that often distract us from the wealth of the present.
When you recognize that it is only an illusion of your time, you will be empowered to break free from the snare you are held in.
- Consistent thoughts that run through your head.
- The constant anxiety and fears of circumstances that either haven't happened or will never happen.
Have you ever experienced internal warfare? Some would call it spiritual warfare.
It's as if good and evil are battling in your mind fighting for your sanity.
It's hard for you to make prompt decisions, let alone decisions that aren't solely driven by emotion.
The spark we search for in life slowly dies as we age, all by the relinquishment of hope.
However, the Stoics believed against this mental model that 90% of people carry daily.
The ancient Stoics believed in the mental frame "Momento Mori".The Latin translation is:
"remember that you will die"
As vigorous as that sounds, it has a beautiful meaning underlying it.
"Momento Mori" is our reminder to be attentive in life, and purposeful.
To enjoy the moments we have with appreciation and gratitude, everything is temporary, in the long run.
When we engage in our thoughts of the past or future we remove ourselves from the present moment.
In doing so, we strip away the potential point of peace we can achieve.
But how does one stay in the present moment for longer periods?
Because you are a human after all, it won't be easy to not think about an event that you have coming up, one that you're excited about.
Or a past traumatic event, one that hinders you in your daily life.
To stay in moments of peace for longer periods is achievable, although it takes the practice of mindfulness meditation.
Meditation plays a big role in Stoic philosophy.
It is a practical tool they use for self-improvement and achieving tranquility of mind.
Having a mind that is quiet with no thoughts lingering is a key component to keeping your peace in the present moment.
Here is a quick tutorial on meditation:
- Lay down in a position you are most comfortable in, one where you will not be prompted to make little movements.
- Use a meditation video that will guide you as you lie down with your eyes closed. These videos usually have a narrator who will walk you step by step on what to do. (Use headphones for this step)
- Focus on your breathing, and your airflow, and feel the air travel through your nostrils into your lungs. This is important for training the quiet mind. Your thoughts will be loud at first, but the point of meditation is to acknowledge your thoughts and understand that you are separate from them, then redirect your focus to breath flow.
Do this for 10-15 minutes a day until you've made it a daily habit, then slowly increase the time under meditation.
- Meditation has many physical benefits, although there are specific reasons this practice was used in Stoic philosophy.
- Meditation will keep you in the present moment, the process of consistent meditation will quiet your mind and allow you to put your focus on what's in front of you.
- When you practice meditation, you have a much better examination of your impulses and emotions, being able to observe your thoughts and feelings without any attachment or judgment.
- Allowing you to recognize harmful emotions or irrational desires and respond to them with the correct reason.
- Meditation will prepare you for future adversity and challenges. By rehearsing potential hardships in their mind the Stoics were able to craft resilience and mental fortitude.
Allowing them to reflect on how to respond with virtue.
Virtue - The quality trait of being morally good, desirable, or commendable.
You will begin to contemplate your virtue as you consistently practice meditation.
Diving deep into your daily actions that reflect virtuous behavior such as courage, wisdom, and self-discipline.
You will lose the short temper you have when it comes to responding to situations.
A high level of patience will be acquired through meditation which will only benefit you on your journey of life.
Life is a simple process, of decision and circumstance.
We as individuals make it harder than it has to be.
If we focus our attention on being grounded, and behaving as the person we want to become, then we become that person.
The Stoics believed that time is our most valuable currency, where we spend it will determine the outcome of our lives and circumstance.
Time is not recoverable, once it's gone, it's gone and you can not get it back.
Mastering time was considered crucial in the Stoic philosophy.
The Stoics understood impermanence, they emphasized the transient nature of life and the inevitability of change.
Circumstances, whether good or bad are not permanent in our lives, as humans we all meet the same fate in the end.
The Stoics understood the fleeting nature that time carries, they valued the importance of making the best out of the present moment instead of procrastinating and dwelling on past regrets.
Living a virtuous life is one of the main points in Stoic philosophy, mastering time will incline you to use it wisely to pursue excellence in thought, and behavior.
Use the time to align yourself with these Stoic principles of behavior:
- Wisdom
- Courage
- Justice
- Self-Discipline
Time is a beautiful thing, it can be an advantage, or it can be a detriment to our lives depending on how we use it.
It's ideal to accept past and future events, for these both are enemies of time.
There is no point in dwelling on events that happened in the past with the precious time you have.Your body will physically react to your negative thoughts about the past in different ways, one of the most common ways is through anxiety.Your body can't tell the difference between what is reality and what isn't.
The same goes for thoughts and concerns about the future. Both future and past thoughts can freeze you in your present moment, completely robbing you of your only true gift.
Instead of being concerned about the outcome of your future path, use the same energy curated to take the action steps needed to accomplish such a goal that will place you in the future you will be proud of.
Time holds one thing that people tend to overlook, or maybe they just don't look deep enough.
This is something that we all require as humans if we want to progress forward in our lives.
Opportunity.
Allowing yourself to be completely in the present moment and taking advantage of your time grants you the ability to be able to grab your opportunities when they show themselves.
Along with opportunities are your personal and spiritual growth.
A very important ingredient for the development of self.
Different positive opportunities put you in different circumstances which will in most cases require you to grow into a more ideal version of yourself, one that can withstand the level of opportunity given.
Everything you want is already yours. It just needs to be brought to life through action.
Taking action is something that is practiced over time, because it is a habit, just like anything else, this is why the Stoics valued their time tremendously because they knew it was the one resource they needed to create.
Instead of wasting your time on frivolous activities that will only grant you instant gratification, choose to be disciplined, and to live virtuously with the time you were granted.
Use the time to better your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Each hour we spend irresponsibly, we will never get back.
Momento Mori.
Your life and time are a gift.
Use your gift, to be a gift to others.
We have recently discovered a partial enemy that is shared amongst the majority of people.
This enemy shares the same process as rotting fruit.
Meaning, that if it isn't tended to, It has the power to drain the person it accompanies.
Now this, If not fixed can also negatively change the direction of a person's life.
- This feeling of emptiness and dissatisfaction.
- The feeling that you aren't being heard in your time of need.
- The feeling of not fitting into any social group that is available to you.
Unappreciation is an enemy of our inner child.
Our inner child is the source of our creativity, something of value to protect.
These are different reasons why loneliness and depression are detrimental to your life trajectory.
How to counteract your deepest darkest feelings?
Overcoming negative thoughts and emotions is never an overnight process, it is a gradual process of acceptance and realization.
12 easy-to-apply principles used by the Ancient Stoics that propelled them in the direction favorable to their success.
Here are the 12 Principles:
Move your body - This is related to doing activities that benefit your fitness. Think of this as a conversation with yourself, create mental and emotional resilience through movement, and stillness allows the mind to roam further.
Be A Better Friend To Yourself - One of the most powerful tools against loneliness and depression. Imagine it were your closest friend or loved one climbing the mountain of life and experiencing its challenges, would you ridicule them for failure and struggle, or would you uplift them?
Uplift yourself, because you are your closest friend.
Be Satisfied More - Enjoy the things you currently have in your life. Enjoy the present moment more because it is the only moment you have. Never be blinded by your desires, as humans we are always wired to want to gain more. Disregarding all of the achievements we have made to date.
Take the time to thank yourself for all you've done thus far.
Widen Your Perspective - When facing a challenge or struggle and you're prompted to make a decision, look at the situation thoroughly and think to yourself "Will this benefit or detriment my future?"
Make the choice that will be most advantageous to you.
Learn To Suffer With Others - Find companions, find people who can relate to your life struggles or challenges. Become acquaintances. Help push each other through the challenges you share, this is the beginning of an unbreakable bond, one created through struggle.
Two minds are always better than one.
Ask For Help - Never be ashamed of your pain. You are human just like the rest of us. You are important and to be cared for. You are to be loved and to be nourished. Those who shame you for looking for help do not have your best interest in their heart.
Always seek help if you feel it necessary.
Focus On Your Path - You are your own hero and no one can help you, or save you from a situation you are uncomfortable with. Focus on your own path because retribution and success lie within it. Even if this means you take 1 hour a day to build toward the goals and ideas you have.
Momento Mori - Translation "Remember you will die".
This is not to alarm you, this is to remind you of the impermanence of things. Everything in life is temporary, all of the pleasures, all of the people, and all of the pain. You will never be in one place forever, physically or mentally.
Embrace Adversity - Life is a beautiful painting. It will come with great gifts at times. But other times, it will come with challenges and tribulations that are meant to teach us things we need to know to have full appreciation for the beauty in our lives.
A way to increase your tolerance to adversity is by engaging in physical activity of some sort that challenges you as an individual. Putting yourself into hardship at any level is a way to be able to train that muscle.
Don't Suppress Your Emotions - A volcano's eruption is similar to the consequence of holding in your emotions. After years of built-up lava inside the volcano, it erupts and destroys everything in a wide radius.
Holding in your emotions can cause the same effect and consequence over time. Do not be a victim of yourself. Do not destroy the things you love. When you feel an emotion, let it out in an appropriate way, whether it be negative or positive.
Seek Stillness - Be unyielding to the waves of worry, doubt, and loneliness. Be the rock in the crashing waves of life. Be still internally during turmoil and struggle. Allow yourself mental clarity through this.
It's not about ignoring the chaos but finding your center in the midst of it.
Accept Things As They Are - It's easy to get lost in the what-ifs and loneliness of life. There's a powerful antidote to the loneliness and depression that usually accompanies our relentless chase for different outcomes.
Accepting things as they are. This isn't about accepting defeat or failure, it's about recognizing a hidden harmony in the chaos.
The unexpected lessons of disappointment.
And the strength that comes from embracing life's unpredictability.
Always prioritize yourself, and make sure your basket is full.
That is the only way to be of benefit to others around you.
Pour into your empty cup, to be able to pour into others.
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