When we think about someone who is stoic we imagine a person who stays calm under pressure and avoids emotional extremes, maybe they’re philosophical about life and seen as someone to rely on.  They appear to coast through life overcoming obstacles with ease in a controlled and disciplined manner.

The history behind this often-used word dates back to around 300BCE and is the bedrock of a movement founded by a rich merchant, Zeno of Citium, who was shipwrecked on the coast of Greece and travelled to Athens.  Having lost everything he owned he found himself drawn into the works of the philosophers of the time, which led him to establish the Philosophical School of Stoicism.  This philosophy has inspired generations of great leaders from Marcus Aurelius to Nelson Mandella. 

Zeno and his disciples would meet at the Stoa Poikile, a decorated public colonnade on the north side of Ancient Agora of Athens, for discussions about a life governed by virtue, tolerance and self-control.  They believed that everything around us operates according to a web of cause and effect resulting in a rational structure of the universe, which they called Logos.

Rather than trying to imagine and architect a perfect world the stoic accepts the world as it is and whilst they didn’t have control over events, they did have control over how they reacted to these events.  The stoic deals with the world as it is whilst pursuing self-improvement through four cardinal virtues:

• Wisdom – the ability to navigate complex situations in a logical, calm and informed manner

• Temperance – the exercise of self-restraint and moderation in all aspects of life

• Justice – treating others with fairness, even when they have done wrong

• Courage – not just in extraordinary circumstances but facing everyday challenges with clarity and integrity

Over the centuries Christian theologians added their own spin by incorporating Faith, Hope and Charity.  Modern psychology and the self-help movement have adopted the teachings, incorporating them into behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing the self-defeating attitude we can form about our life circumstances.  Logotherapy, founded by psychiatrist and neurologist Victor Frankl is based on the stoic principal that we can harness our willpower to fill our lives with meaning, even in the bleakest of times.

It has parallels with the ancient Grecian practice of Ataraxia (tranquility of mind) and the Buddhist concept of Nirvana, but how do we incorporate this into our modern lives?

One of the leading practioners is the author Ryan Holiday, his website www.dailystoic.com has a wealth of fascinating reading on the subject. Here are his [i]7 Exercises of Stoicism that offer a practical guide to incorporating the teachings into everyday life:

I. Summum bonum (the highest good) – doing the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons. Working for the common good, seeing obstacles as opportunities.  If you’re not acting to your moral code it doesn’t matter how successful you are, you are going to be unhappy

II. Amor fati (the love of fate) – there is no such thing as an obstacle only fuel for progress, nothing can slow you down, everything is taking you in the direction you want to take

III. Premeditatio malorum (the premeditation of evils) – to have low expectation and be truly grateful when reality exceeds that expectation

IV. The obstacle is the way – what stands in the way becomes the way.  Find the good in all, inside every obstacle is a chance to improve

V. Ego is the enemy – the dangers of pride, accept that you are not special

VI. Sympatheia (the affinity of parts to the organic whole) – connection to others supporting the adage that ‘what’s bad for the hive is bad for the bees’.  Become a citizen of your community and ask yourself; “is what I am doing now, today, for the betterment of all”

VII. Mementio mori (remember you must die) – living every day as if it was your last

Stoicism is one of the guiding philosophies at Zengility; we all passionately believe that by incorporating these 7 exercises into our daily activities we are laying the bedrock for liberation from the world of work.

Written by Dom Auton

Credit for content goes to: Ryan Holiday www.dailystoic.com
Massimo Pigliucci and his excellent cartoon: The Philosophy of Stoicism https://youtu.be/R9OCA6UFE-0