You win some, you lose some
If you are worried about something, your suffering is not a result of the thing itself, but of the way you judge it. And you can change that at any time.
- Marcus Aurelius
As an extrovert, I often react very emotionally to what happens in my life. I want to share the joy of success with the world, but I also experience failure very strongly and feel like a loser. The other day I came across a book called 'The Stoic Challenge' by the philosophy professor William B. Irvine. In it, he describes in a fascinating way, using examples from his own life, how the pursuit of inner peace can make us happier. Intrigued, I decided to explore this topic, which goes back to ancient times.
Zenon of Kition, one of the most famous philosophers of Athens, attracted people from all over Greece to his lectures. In the 3rd century BC, he introduced a philosophical movement known as Stoicism, which is still very popular today. The name 'Stoicism' comes from the Greek word 'stoa', which means the place where Zeno taught. A key practice of Stoic philosophy is the distinction between what can be changed and what is beyond our control. This is the origin of Zeno's famous saying that 'fortune turns on a wheel' - our fate can change at any time, so we should learn to accept it.
According to Zeno, happiness is not about feeling pleasure, but about mental peace, which is achieved by overcoming obstacles and adversity from things and external events. The Stoics believed that man is good if he chooses the good. The historian Giovanni Reale explained that "good is that which preserves and causes the growth of our being, while evil is that which threatens and diminishes it". (1)
Greek philosophy, in line with the understanding of another Stoic, Epictetus, sees the making of man happy as his liberation. Epictetus wrote: "If you consecrate your mind to me, wherever you are, whatever you do, you will not be overwhelmed by sorrow, you will not be overwhelmed by anger, you will not be hindered, you will not experience difficulties, but without passion and in true freedom you will remain all the days of your life". (3)
The Stoics believed that living a virtuous life was enough to achieve happiness. Ultimately, it is up to us to choose between good and evil. They believed that "all the barriers and obstacles we encounter on our way, all the mistakes we make, have their origin in ignorance". (4) These obstacles often arise from attachment to external things, which should only be a means to an end and not an end in themselves. Although they are useful, they cannot be treated as something necessary (4).
The Stoics taught that by avoiding the pursuit of pleasure at all costs, and by fulfilling our duties with honesty and integrity and acting according to reason, we will achieve a state of what the ancient Greeks called eudaimonia - a state of complete, rationally based contentment and satisfaction with life (5).
Eudaimonia is not just satisfaction with material possessions or sensual pleasures, but the deep sense of fulfilment that comes from living according to one's values and virtues. The Stoics believed that true happiness did not depend on external circumstances, but on the inner strength that each person possessed.
The development of Stoicism also introduced the concept of wisdom of life, based on the ability to control one's emotions and desires, and the ability to cope with difficult situations.
Today, Stoicism is still popular and influences various areas of life, such as psychology and stress management. Stoic philosophy provides tools to help us better understand our emotions and reactions to external events, thus enabling a more conscious and reflective approach to life. For example, Stoic techniques such as 'premeditatio malorum' (visualising worst-case scenarios) are used in cognitive behavioural therapy, which focuses on changing negative thinking and behaviour patterns.
In addition, stoicism can help us deal with everyday challenges such as relationships, work or finances. When we strive for inner peace, we learn to accept what we cannot change and focus on what is within our power. This makes us more resilient to stress and better able to cope with life's difficulties.
In conclusion, Stoicism is a philosophy that still has much to offer. The profound teachings of Stoicism enable us to face the challenges of modern life and lead to a greater understanding of ourselves, other people and the world in which we live. Stoicism is not only for those seeking a philosophical approach to life. Its universal principles, such as focusing on what is within our power or dealing with adversity, can be useful to anyone, regardless of belief system or background. It is therefore worth taking the time to explore Stoicism, not just as an ancient philosophy, but as a valuable approach that can help us find balance and happiness in today's sometimes chaotic world.
References:
History of Ancient Philosophy, Giovanni Reale
Moral Letters to Lucilius, Seneca
Diatribes, Epictetus
Stoic philosophy as a source for a way of life in consumer culture, Nina Wróblewska
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudajmonia
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