What is Stoicism?

If you ever wanted to be the type of person who remained cool, calm, and collected in almost any situation, then the Stoic philosophy is for you.

Understanding and adopting the core tenets of the Stoic philosophy can have a powerful and positive effect on your mindset — especially when navigating difficult situations. In fact, I'm so convinced of the effectiveness of Stoic thinking that I've integrated many of their principles into the development of my professional and personal growth strategy.

Despite Stoicism being an ancient Greek philosophy it is making a strong comeback in modern times and is a school of thought many are using to become happier with life. If you've never heard of the Stoics before or want to firm up your knowledge about their principles, this guide will make it easy to interpret and embrace their way of thinking and living. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of Stoicism as used in everyday conversation is as follows:

The endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint

But what exactly was this definition derived from? It is useful to get the backstory on this word because how we use it colloquially is a bit different from its original meaning.  

Stoicism is the name of an ancient Greek philosophy that was founded during the Hellenistic period. This is a period of Mediterranean history that spans from 323 BCE (after the death of Alexander the Great) to 31 BCE which marked the decline of Greece from its peak and the emergence of the Roman Empire as a superpower.

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the term Stoic was derived from the word porch (stoa poikilê), as members of this school of thought would congregate on the Agora at Athens (central marketplace) where lectures were held.

At the heart of the Stoic way of living is the ongoing process of developing self-control, exercising clear judgment, and overcoming destructive emotions. The following principles provide a roadmap to the Stoic philosophy.

Manage your expectations and judgments

Do you tend to have very high expectations or make unrealistic assumptions? Do you exaggerate your judgment about people or situations? When there's a big gap between what you want or expect and reality, it can cause anxiety, frustration, and discord. You can have dreams, hopes, and beliefs, but it’s better if they are sensible.

Another way to manage expectations is to occasionally reflect on worst-case scenarios using an exercise called negative visualization. When you are in a tricky situation think about both the best and worst outcomes, and you'll start conditioning yourself to better handle the ups and downs in life.

Be realistic about what you can change

If you exert a lot of energy trying to change people or circumstances that are out of your control, this tenet is for you. There's a lot about life that you have no ability to influence. However, there's quite a bit you can change (namely your own thoughts, habits, and actions).

Western society — the U.S. in particular — has an obsession with winning and succeeding. In reality, there are things that you won't be able to do, even if you "put your mind to it". Learn how to distinguish between what's in your power and what's not. A good rule of thumb is to start with yourself by being the change you wish to see.

Practice equanimity in negative situations

Equanimity means calm and composure and speaks to a powerful concept within Stoicism called Apatheia which is central to the philosophy. Humans have a built-in fight or flight mechanism that triggers anytime there's a perceived threat. It works by riling up your emotions so you react instantly and intensely.

However, as we’ve evolved to have more control over our environment (and thus more safety and security) this mechanism has remained in place, causing us to overreact to circumstances that aren't life or death situations. With practice, you can learn how to master this mechanism instead of allowing it to command you.

Call out your emotions for what they are

How often do you feel unsettled or disturbed about something but can't clearly articulate why? Probably more than you realize. In the midst of adverse situations, your thoughts are typically muddled by overpowering emotions, so it's easy to misinterpret what you are really feeling.

By calming down enough to name the emotion and its underlying cause, you'll be better able to address the situation in an appropriate way. One unfounded myth of Stoicism is that practitioners seek to suppress emotions. That’s not true at all. What they really do is recognize emotions and then put them in check so they don't cause damage.

Live in harmony with nature (especially human nature)

Ancient Stoicism was both a metaphysical and spiritual philosophy as practitioners were immensely dedicated to understanding the universe and learning how to work with, not against, that knowledge. Most importantly was acknowledging that humans are rational beings and should hone their thinking skills.

In general, if you seek wisdom you'll develop deeper insights about yourself and the world around you. You'll sharpen your faith and intuition, and replace impulse behavior with purpose, intention, and logic.