By
Jorge Manuel Zelaya Fajardo
www.jorgemanuelzelaya.com
May
28th, 2020
Generally when we hear the
word stoic we immediately think of an
adjective of a person who is mentally and physically strong, with very little feelings´
expression and high tolerance for pain that allows him to
resist a lot of pressure. Although there is some truth in these statements, the
real truth is that Stoic philosophy is much,
much more than that. For that reason I have given myself the task of
writing a few lines, that although few in quantity, can provide an interesting
synthesis of the most relevant aspects of that school of thought.
Stoicism is a philosophical
school of life founded by Zeno of Citio
(336 BC - 264 BC) in ancient Greece. His doctrine is based on a relationship
between reason, virtue, the betterment of society and nature. His ultimate goal
is to achieve happiness and wisdom regardless of material goods and external
circumstances. Its success extended from its very beginning in Stoa (open square in Athens where Zenón
de Citio congregated to teach)
Like all philosophy, it has two intrinsically connected elements: metaphysics (how things work) and ethics (how we behave with things). Stoicism defines humans as social and rational beings. The two fundamental pillars of stoicism are virtues and control. The Stoic school conceives as fundamental the virtues of practical wisdom (applying reason and knowledge on a day to day basis), justice (giving each one his due), courage (especially the moral of doing the right things) and temperance (having measure when doing things). Regarding control, Stoic philosophy establishes that there are only two types of situations: those that I can control (on those I must act diligently) and those that I cannot control (on those I should not worry about at all).
As much in science as in religion, in sport or in arts, one learns a lot from the human beings who actively profess, throughout their lives and in their own flesh and bones, the precepts that their philosophies preach. Hence we can learn from the lives and teachings of the most important Stoicism thinkers, such as Zeno de Citio (founder), Seneca (illustrious Roman senator and counselor), Epictetus (born slave who surpassed himself) and Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor who successfully underwent a pandemic, two great wars, serious political conflicts and health problems). Each of them, among their own weaknesses and human errors, managed to improve themselves by practicing stoicism.
In fact the influence of Stoic
philosophers has been studied with special attention by all kinds of leaders
throughout history. Very particularly, but not exclusively, the book
MEDITATIONS by Marcus Aurelius, who never sought to publish the work as a book,
but rather was a workbook or private learning journal. Stoicism has been
studied from Paul of Tarsus to Rene Descartes, from Shakespeare to Nelson
Mandela, from Abraham Lincoln to corporate leaders in Silicon Valley.
Similarly, there are iconic
phrases that describe in a few letters many of the key thoughts of Stoic
philosophy such as being amor fati (loving what happens to us), memento mori (death is inevitable) and premeditatium
malorum (preparing for the worst
scenario).
Stoicism is, in short, a
school of thought. A philosophy of life. A modus operandi. It is not a fashion.
It is not a trending topic on social networks. In particular, I declare myself
a deep confessed admirer and avid student of Stoicism. I think what strikes me the
most about this philosophy is its two fundamental pillars (the virtues and the concept of control). It thrills me to think
that I can dare to practice them with the goal of reaching the goal.
However, to be consistent like
that beautiful Latin phrase that says acta
non verba (actions not words), I
allow myself to share certain simple, daily and accessible actions that can
help us practice the theory of stoicism. I dare to quote them without any
preconceived order: journaling, walking to think, using time wisely,
practicing absolute concentration on one thing at a time, doing something
uncomfortable every day to increase the threshold of adaptability, waking up
early, understand that emotions are inevitable but can be measured and above
all know that I have the freedom to choose how to respond to external stimuli
so as not to be a slave to circumstances.
Nowadays our countries, our
regions and our world, stoicism gives me, personally, a fresh breeze that the
HOPE that everything will improve, and that starts with our own self-improvement
first. A kind of individual KAIZEN that, sooner or later, will help ALL of us
to improve, inevitably. CARPE DIEM.
Comments
Post a Comment