Stoicism as a Life Philosophy

Last year, I made a decision that would change my life forever: “Stoicism will be my life philosophy.”

The Pursuit of Traditional Success

For a long time, society has made us believe that our happiness and fulfillment would come from:

• Having more money
• Having a job with more recognition
• Having a bigger house
• Having an expensive car
• Having the latest smartphone, branded clothes, etc.

Since childhood, we’ve been taught that we must strive to have all of this. The common narrative suggests that people will appreciate us more if we have more money, they’ll admire us more if we have an expensive car, they’ll respect us more if we have a high position in a company.

The Stoic Awakening

This idea never quite convinced me. I knew people who had everything but were depressed.

Thanks to an algorithm, I found stoicism and, after reading Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, I learned that what I needed to “have” were different things.

The True Values

If we want to live a life worth living, a life we won’t regret on our deathbed, it’s more important to have:

• Virtues that guide our thoughts and actions
• Routines that shape our days
• Aphorisms to turn to when our inner waters are rough
• Mindset that’s proof against adversities and difficulties
• Attention directed to the present moment

Conclusion

This is what I strive to have every day. This is what guides my life. This is what’s under my control.

As Seneca says, we cannot put our serenity and happiness in Fortune’s hands. If we lack our inner strength and serenity, then we “have” nothing, regardless of how many material possessions we accumulate.