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Stoicism, an ancient philosophy, offers practical tools for a calm and contented life. In my exploration of many ancient Greek philosophies, Stoicism, as I have seen it, is a valuable guide in navigating life’s challenges.
So I am eager to break down the essence of stoicism in this post to help you understand why it matters to practice stoicism in our everyday lives.
What does Stoicism mean?
Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches how to live well by focusing on virtues and dealing with life’s ups and downs. It encourages us to concentrate on what we can control and find fulfilment within ourselves.
I started reading a lot about Stoicism a year ago, and as I embraced and put its principles into practice, it has helped me immensely while dealing with life’s uncertainties.
Before we get to know how we need to practice this philosophy in life, let’s understand its importance.
Why is stoicism important?
Stoicism matters because it equips us to face life’s uncertainties with resilience. In a world full of unpredictable events, Stoicism guides us towards a purpose-driven and meaningful life by emphasising virtues like wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.
Often, life events and the people around us come up with random stuff, and by practicing stoicism, one can handle any situation in front of them with ease!
Let’s quickly jump into ways to practice this philosophy or key factors to apply in life to live like a stoic.
7 Powerful Ways to Practice Stoicism in Everyday Life
1. Understand what you can control
Life is filled with things we can’t control, like the weather or other people’s actions. Stoicism teaches us to focus on what we can control—our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.
I realised that worrying about things beyond my control only added stress and wasted my energy. By concentrating on what I could manage, I regained a sense of control over my life.
For instance, I am very sensitive to people being loud or using cussy words, and I quickly got upset over how people could disrespect others for no reason other than being polite.
By understanding it is no way in my control, instead of monitoring and controlling others’ language, all I could do was bless them to be more aware and focus on how I could respond kindly.
This shift empowered me to navigate such situations with composure.
2. Practice Stoicism by Cultivating Virtues
Stoicism emphasises virtues—qualities like wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance—that contribute to a good life.
As I embraced this idea, I consciously tried to incorporate these virtues and practice stoicism into my daily life. This not only elevated my character but also influenced how I approached various aspects of life.
There was a moment where the virtue of courage played a significant role. By facing a personal fear head-on, by choosing something that I loved to do rather than going by the collective lot, and by speaking up for myself, I not only conquered it but also experienced an unexpected surge of confidence and inner strength.
3. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves being aware of our thoughts and reactions. Stoicism encourages this awareness to enable intentional responses to even the mundane aspects of life besides the challenges we face.
It’s about taking a moment to think before reacting, allowing for more control over our emotional responses.
After my spiritual awakening process, all my energy chakras were opened, leaving my senses heightened. I was going through major shifts. During one such stressful period where my values and beliefs were no longer aligned with those of the people around me, I started incorporating mindfulness into my routine.
Pausing and reflecting before reacting transformed my approach to stressors, leading to a more measured and composed response.
I slowly but steadily began to understand that not all might have met themselves as much as I have met myself, and that’s absolutely fine.
4. Practice Stoicism by Embracing the impermanence of life
This one is my favourite put-to-practice that showed drastic positive changes.
Life is constantly changing, and Stoicism urges us to accept this reality.
This principle became a source of solace during times of uncertainty, reminding me that change is a natural part of life.
Reflecting on my personal journey, Stoicism guided me through the process of acceptance.
Embracing the impermanence of situations, people, relationships, and experiences—even my thoughts, words, and actions, for that matter—allowed me to appreciate the beauty of the present moment.
This allowed me to stay light and easy with life.
5. Memento Mori
“Memento Mori” is a Latin phrase meaning “remember that you will die.” Stoicism encourages us to be aware of our mortality, prompting us to live each day with purpose and gratitude.
This very thought that I have come to live on this planet only for a limited time period (not going to be here like forever!) and that I don’t have to waste it on things that don’t uplift me empowered me and gave me the courage to step out boldly from the usual norms.
Also read: 8 Clear Signs That Tell Your Reincarnation Cycle On Earth Is Coming To An END!
This Stoic principle became a daily reminder to appreciate life, fostering a profound shift in my perspective on what truly matters.
6. Practice negative visualisation
Stoicism challenges us to think about potential challenges and losses. This practice prepares the mind for adversity, fostering resilience and a deeper appreciation for life’s blessings.
Like I said, I am a highly sensitive person, and anticipating potential setbacks allowed me to proactively prepare for challenges. This mental rehearsal not only reduced the fear of the unknown but also enhanced my ability to navigate unexpected obstacles.
7. Value of inner fulfilment
Stoicism suggests finding contentment within oneself rather than relying on external circumstances. I was once this person who was hypersensitive to other people’s opinions of me.
Today I can say I need no external validation, for I know myself better than anyone else! I am only constantly striving to impress one person all day every day, and that’s me!
This shift from seeking joy in personal growth and virtue has been a profound aspect of my Stoic journey.
Final Thoughts…
Stoicism, with its practical wisdom, offers tools for a purpose-driven and tranquil life in this modern, noisy world. My personal journey with Stoicism has been a testament to its transformative power.
By understanding its principles and applying them to daily life, we can navigate life’s complexities with resilience and find enduring fulfilment.
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As we draw near the end of this blog, if you are looking for some artistic inspiration, do explore my spiritual art expressions here and shop here for prints that inspire and uplift! 🌈 ✨
Until next time,
Love, light, and endless inspiration to all.
Neethu.
