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5 Principles of Stoicism to Induce Change in Life
Jan 18, 2023

Reading time 3 min.

After reading the two books I mentioned below, my perspective change immediately. I learned these five principles from stoicism.

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Virtue is value

The Stoics were a school of philosophy that believed in living a virtuous life. They believed that virtue, or moral excellence, was the ultimate goal in life.

They believed that virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, and moderation were necessary for living a fulfilling life. They believed that by cultivating these virtues, one could achieve a state of inner peace and tranquility, regardless of the external circumstances.

Feel the Presence of Present Moment

One of the key principles of stoicism is accepting the present moment. The Stoics believed that we should focus on what we can control, which is our own thoughts and actions, and let go of what we cannot control, such as external events or other people’s actions.

This is the idea of accepting what is, and not wasting energy on things that are beyond our control. They believed that by accepting the present moment, we can be more present in our own lives and live in the present rather than dwelling in the past or worrying about the future.

Self-Control is important

Another important principle of stoicism is the importance of self-control. The Stoics believed that self-control is essential for living a virtuous life.

They believed that we should strive to control our emotions and desires in order to act in a rational and virtuous way. They believed that emotions such as fear, anger, and envy can cloud our judgment and lead us to make irrational decisions.

By mastering our emotions, we can make decisions that are in line with our virtues and ultimately lead to a more fulfilling life.

Reason is Crucial

The Stoics also believed in the power of reason. They believed that reason is the most powerful tool we have for understanding the world and living a virtuous life.

They believed that we should use reason to guide our thoughts and actions, and that by doing so, we can achieve a greater understanding of the world and our place in it.

They said that reason is the only reliable guide to understanding the nature of things, and that by using it, we can avoid the pitfalls of emotionalism and superstition.

The "Indifferents"

Lastly, the Stoics had an idea of "indifferents", which are things that are neither good nor bad, but rather depend on our perspective and our attitude towards them.

They accepted that focusing too much on external events or things, such as wealth or power, will only lead to disappointment and negative emotions.

Instead, they believed that we should focus on cultivating our virtues and living in accordance with reason.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Stoicism is a philosophy that emphasizes on living a virtuous life, accepting the present moment, having self-control, utilizing the power of reason and understanding the concept of indifferents.

It encourages people to focus on what they can control, master their emotions, use reason and avoid the pitfalls of emotionalism and superstition in order to lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life


I learned about these ideas from reading these two book;

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Letters from a Stoic by SENECA

Good DAY🤩

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