I think the best metaphor for life is a boat at sea.
Sometimes you have clear skies and calm waters.
Other times, you are in a tempest of chaos and noise.
Whether sunny or moody, boats need a compass to guide them.
Humans are the same. We need something to guide us through life.
I see philosophy as offering many different brands of compasses to help you navigate.
But my favourite is Stoicism.
This ancient philosophy, much like an old wine, has only gotten richer with time and a more accurate and reassuring guide.
Imbuing its teachings into your daily life doesn’t just promise a direction, but it promises discovery, laughter, and a profound connection with life’s ebb and flow.
It can seem overwhelming as a topic, so in this post I’ll walk you through 7 actionable techniques you can use from Stoicism in your daily life to make it more fulfilling, satisfying and (in a word), better.
Table of Contents:
- The Mastery of Control
- Life’s Ephemeral Ballet
- The Symphony of Gratitude
- The Artistry of Thought
- The Quest for Stoic Gold
- Adversity: The Unexpected Muse
- Mirror Moments: The Act of Reflection
1. The Mastery of Control
Within the corridors of history, Epictetus, once a slave, transformed into a prominent Stoic teacher.
This was quite the personal transformation. And he didn’t even need a life coach.
His most enduring idea was that, in every moment, we have a choice.
The choice we have is to focus on what we can control or to focus on what we cannot.
Epictetus says we can control very few things. Namely: our opinions about the outside world.
That is all.
And choosing to focus on our opinions about the outside world – and nothing more – is a sure way of feeling in control.
How can you use this? Well, next time you’re faced with frustration, ask yourself: what am I trying to control?
If you’re trying to control something other than your opinions of the outside world, take a step back. Focus on your opinions.
When you look at the world in this way you begin to see how your opinions shape the way you feel and act.
But this is the locus of control. You must focus here.
2. Life’s Ephemeral Ballet
Marcus Aurelius, Rome’s philosopher-king, often wrote about life’s fleeting nature in his ‘Meditations’:
“Everything’s destiny is to change, to be transformed, to perish.”
This includes you, and your day today.
Indeed, you may not live to see tomorrow, I’m afraid to say.
For your only destiny, the only thing absolutely guaranteed in life, is that it will come to an end.
But you don’t know when that will be.
Reading this blog post could be your last contribution on earth (I sincerely hope it isn’t).
This needn’t be morbid. It should make you want to squeeze every last drop of life out of each moment.
Cherish it, don’t be moody.
Embracing the impermanence, you can start each day by reminding yourself of the transient beauty around—like the morning dew, the birds chirping or a hug with a loved one.
Simple, but beautiful things. Made even more special by the truth that they may be your last.
This awareness makes challenges seem small and moments more precious.
3. The Symphony of Gratitude
Seneca, in his timeless letters, preached contentment and finding wealth in life’s intangibles.
“It is not the one who has too little, but the one who craves more, that is poor.”
The key with gratitude is to make yourself want what you already have.
This can seem counterintuitive so read that again.
You must want what you already have.
And a good way of achieving this mind state is to imagine losing the things you currently have.
Imagine losing your family.
How would you feel?
How would your day be tomorrow without them?
It would be awful. And yet, look. They’re not gone. They’re here.
So appreciate them and stop hankering for more that you don’t need.
This also helps with your finances by the way, as it gives you more room for investing as opposed to spending frivolously.
Cultivate a daily habit of jotting down three things you’re grateful for as well if need be.
Over time, you’ll notice a shift in perspective, focusing more on life’s blessings than its shortcomings.
4. The Artistry of Thought
The way we interpret events shapes our experience.
The same thing can happen to two people and one can be better for it, one can bemoan it.
When facing adversities, try reframing them: instead of seeing a challenge as a setback, view it as an opportunity for growth, a lesson to be learned.
A great technique to use here is to simply respond ‘good’ to everything that happens or comes your way.
This trains your mind to see the silver lining in everything.
Because everything has its pros and cons. You just need to choose which you’ll focus on.
And I guarantee life will be more enjoyable for you and those around you if you focus on the good things.
So the next time something unexpected happens, something you’d typically see as a setback, simply reply ‘good’.
And look for the silver linings.
5. The Quest for Stoic Gold
William Irvine, in his explorations of Stoicism, dives deep into its practices and principles. I strongly recommend his work.
There is so much great Stoicism content out there but stick to the originals and you can’t go far wrong.
Pick up an Enchiridion, Letters from a Stoic and Meditations. Go from there.
Dedicate a part of your day to read and learn, be it from Stoic texts or contemporary analyses.
Knowledge, when applied, becomes the wisdom that can profoundly alter our daily lives.
And give you unique insights that are relevant to you and your interpretation.
Don’t rely on blog posts like this as your only source of wisdom!
6. Adversity: The Unexpected Muse
Schopenhauer posited that life oscillates between pain and boredom.
I don’t think he nailed it with this analysis, but I don’t think he was far from the truth.
And there are certainly lessons here.
One of which is to embrace adversity.
To be frank, life is tough. You will face setbacks and challenges.
So try, like Schopenhauer, to view challenges not as cruel jests of fate but as enriching experiences, sculpting you into a wiser being.
Because they genuinely are.
And you’ll be ok in the end. Don’t stress too much.
As Naval says: “Relax, you’ll perform better and live longer.”
7. Mirror Moments: The Act of Reflection
Martha Nussbaum’s works (which are some of my favourite philosophical texts; she’s brilliant) often stress the importance of introspection in understanding our emotions.
We often neglect our emotional side because it can be difficult to deal with feelings of stress, anger or frustration.
We often don’t really know where to start or who to talk to about them, and so end up burying them.
But, as the famous book rightly says, the body keeps the score.
You need to be able to process emotions. With other people, yes, but with yourself too.
And so you should cultivate a nightly habit of reflection.
Before sleep, revisit your day, the highs and lows, and find lessons within them, turning daily experiences into wellsprings of wisdom.
What annoyed you today? And why?
Did you get upset with someone? Did you feel anxious at any point?
Dig into these experiences.
What can you learn from them?
You have the facilities to become wise.
You just need to spend time with yourself and your emotions. To reflect and grow.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Stoicism is less about one-off quotes and posters but more about vibrant, enriched living.
Genuinely reading Stoicism and adopting its techniques into your daily life can be transformative.
With its age-old wisdom, it offers tools not just for resilience, but for a life soaked in depth and understanding.
So that when life’s tumultuous seas toss you from side to side, you have more wisdom. to deal with it.
And when there are calm waters and clear skies, you can be happier and more grateful.
So as you traverse your journey, may Stoicism be your guide, turning each day not just into a passage of time, but a work of art.
Love, as always,
Max
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