Have you ever felt overwhelmed by thoughts in your mind about events that are never going to happen, losing your calm in the process? Let me show you how the Stoic approach can help you overcome these feelings.
(The feather symbolizes a calm mind, the brain-shaped rock represents overthinking, books embody knowledge, and the candlelight guides our journey.)
Find the fine balance between a calm mind and the tendency to overthink, illuminated by the wisdom and guidance knowledge brings.
Things to Think Clearly — Mind of Stoic
Marcus Aurelius’ teachings offer timeless wisdom on how to live a rational, virtuous, and fulfilling life. By training our perception, controlling our emotions, understanding what we can control, living virtuously, and embracing a broader perspective, we can achieve the clarity of mind and inner peace that are essential for navigating life’s complexities.
1. Train Your Perception
Events themselves don't harm us; our perception of them does.
Marcus Aurelius believed in the power of perception. He argued that our experiences are shaped not by events themselves, but by our judgments of them. By choosing not to view something as harmful, it loses its power to affect us negatively. Stoicism teaches us to question our automatic judgments and consider more rational and positive interpretations. This practice of reframing our perspective helps in seeing events in a neutral light, leading to a clearer and more rational mindset.
2. Learn to Control Your Emotions
Managing emotions is key to maintaining rational thinking.
Marcus Aurelius emphasized the importance of controlling emotions to maintain rational thinking. Instead of suppressing emotions, Stoicism advocates for managing them by redirecting their energy. For example, instead of letting anger lead to destructive actions, one should channel it into constructive dialogue or personal growth activities. This approach prevents emotions from clouding judgment and promotes a calm and rational mind.
3. Exercise the Dichotomy of Control
Distinguish between what is within your control and what is not.
The dichotomy of control, a central concept in Stoicism, distinguishes between what we can control and what we cannot. Aurelius taught that focusing on what we can control and accepting what we cannot leads to inner strength and clarity of mind. This practice encourages us to embrace life’s challenges and learn from them, promoting a mindset of growth and resilience.
4. Embrace Your Virtues
Living according to virtues like wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance leads to a fulfilling life.
Virtuous living is fundamental to Stoic philosophy. Aurelius urged individuals to delve into their inner goodness and live by the four cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance. These virtues guide ethical behavior and contribute to the greater good, fostering a life of purpose and moral integrity. By living virtuously, one can achieve a state of peace and contentment, essential for clear thinking.
5. Embrace a Broader Perspective
Adopting a wide-angle view helps in making informed, rational decisions.
Finally, Aurelius advocated for adopting a broader perspective on life. This means stepping back to view the bigger picture, recognizing the insignificance of our troubles in the grand scheme of things. Such a perspective helps in understanding the interconnectedness of all things and the impact of our actions on the broader world. By considering multiple viewpoints and the long-term effects of our decisions, we can make more informed and rational choices.