Becoming stoical is much more difficult than understanding #Stoicism.
Here are some #tips. πͺ‘π§΅
#stoicstr #mindfullness
Discussion
#Happiness begins with a clear understanding of one principle:
β’ Some things are within our control, and some things are not in our #control.
Some things are in your #control and others not.
Things in your control are:
1. #judgment
2. #opinion
3. #intention
4. #desires
5. #aversions
+ whatever are βyour own #actionsβ
(the internal world, governed by your own volition)
Some things are in your control and others not.
Things not in your control are:
1. body
2. possessions
3. reputation
4. fame
5. relationships
+ whatever are βnot your actionsβ
(the external world, governed by cause and effect)
Confusing the internal world of your #mind, over which you have control, with the external world, which you can only influence but not control, causes most #suffering.
#Happiness is not getting what we want, but wanting what we get.
#Wellbeing doesnβt derive from the possession of external things, but from the control of internal states of #mind.
Your options when you are stuck in traffic:
1. fume & curse as your blood pressure rises
2. be thankful for the chance to listen to your favourite music
- You have no control over the traffic.
- You do have control over how you respond to it.
The key to inner #wellbeing is to align what #life gives you with what you want.
When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it. It is not the things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance.
People & Things are not what we wish them to be nor are they what they seem to be.
People & Things are just what they are.
Authentic #happiness is always independent of external conditions.
The Two Fundamental #Stoic Questions:
1. What things are under my control.
2. What #attitude should I take toward those things that are not under my control?
If you wish to live a #life free from #sorrow, think of what is going to happen as if it had already happened.
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is your power to choose your response. In your response lies your #growth and our #freedom.
You do not control what to feel.
You control what to think.
You control how to act on those two.
Always try to reframe everything into a positive manner, or at least in a manner that you can come to accept with #peaceofmind.
If you become frustrated with events outside of your control, you are wasting #energy and fostering negative #emotion.
You must appreciate all that you have and find joy in it. #gratitude
If you can #focus on making clear what parts of your day are within your control and what parts are not, you will not only be happier, you will have a distinct advantage over other people who fail to realise they are fighting an unwinnable battle.
#Mindfulness
The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have. β #MarcusAurelius
#Stoicism #quotestr
#Stoicism #stoicstr
You have power over your mind β not outside events.
You will only ever lose the #life you are now living, and only ever live the life you are now losing.
Your #mindset is your most powerful tool; sharpen it daily. #Stoicism
The Two Rules for Inner Peace:
1. Control What You Can
2. Release What You Canβt
4 Rules for Better #Life
Always Remember:
β the quality of your #thoughts determines the quality of your #life.
#Stoicism #stoicstr
Epictetus once said, βIt's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that mattersβ.
In today's world of ambiguity, constant change, and uncertainty, the power of our #perception and #response cannot be overstated.
Be #mindful!
I think your thoughts & feelings are downstream of your beliefs, definitions & agreements.
There is no in built meaning to anything that arises in our reality. It's our definitions & beliefs that shape their meaning. We have full control over how we perceive events but not through pure force of our mind, it's by shaping & crafting our beliefs & definitions.
A big one I've found helpful was accepting responsibilty for everything that arises. I chose this event, this expression, at a higher level, why? What insight does this show me? What can I learn from this? I don't like how this feels, what do I still believe that is causing me this pain?
My aim was never to become a stoic, it was to illuminate my suffering. Pain is inevitable but suffering is a choice. It's resistance to what is. It's ultimately my beliefs & definitions that cause the resistance. Once I started shifting my beliefs, everything else started shifting.
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO (FROM THE STOICS) #stoicism #stoicstr
1. Don't suffer imagined troubles.
We spend so much time worried about how bad things are going to be, that we actually torture ourselves more than the thing we're worried about ever could. "We suffer more in imagination than in reality." (Seneca)
2. Don't be overheard complaining.
Not even to yourself. Look inward, not outward. Don't complain. Don't meddle in the affairs of others. When you see someone acting objectionably, remember when you have acted that way. (Marcus Aurelius)
3. Don't seek validation.
"Ambition means tying your well-being to what other people say or do. Self-indulgence means tying it to the things that happen to you." Real success, real mastery, real sanity, that comes only by "tying it to your own actions." (Marcus Aurelius)
4. Don't avoid difficulty.
To avoid difficulty would mean complete retreat from life. It would mean hiding in ignorance. Worse, this would make you dreadfully vulnerable to crisis if it did ever find you. Instead, we must welcome hazard. Rejoice in the unexpected and turn failure into strength by deciding to own it. (Marcus Aurelius)
5. Don't judge others.
Strict with yourself, understanding to others. Be open to the idea that people are going to be fools or jerks or unreliable or anything else. Let them be. That's their business. That's not inside your control. Be disciplined with yourself, your reactions. If someone acts ridiculous, let them. If you're acting ridiculous, catch the problem, stop it, and work on preventing it from happening in the future. What you do is in your control. That is your business. Be strict about it. Leave other people to themselves. You have enough to worry about. (Marcus Aurelius)