Stoicism - What and Why?

Stoicism is a philosophical school of thought that originated in ancient Greece around the 3rd century BCE and later gained popularity in ancient Rome. It is primarily attributed to the teachings of philosophers such as Zeno of Citium, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca.

Its teachings continue to be studied and applied in modern times as a practical philosophy for living a meaningful and resilient life. The following are the key takeaways :

The Dichotomy of Control:

This principle is the most important one. It divides things into two categories: things we can control (our thoughts, desires, and actions) and things we cannot control (external events, the actions of others, and outcomes). I can NOT stress enough the need to prioritize the former and accept the latter. Kiddies, if you follow this one principle everyday, life will be so much simpler.

Amor Fati (Love of Fate):

This principle encourages us embrace whatever happens in life as an opportunity for growth and learning. This includes both favorable and unfavorable events. We seek and accept the pleasantries of life, while rejecting and avoiding the parts that are unpleasant. However, the idea is to accept and even love the fate that befalls you. As Epictetus put it: “Don't seek to have events happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and all will be well with you.” This is the same as J Krishnamurti's teaching of "I don't mind what happens". It is not easy to do but well worth a try!

Kiddies, remember even if you don't follow anything else, heeding the above two principles and remembering Senaca's advice that "we suffer more often in imagination than in reality" is a pretty good anchor when life gets challenging.