Who Were The Stoics & What is Stoic Journaling ?
This article explores how a 2000 year old philosophy can help us navigate thoughtfully through our modern day lives.
If a man knows
not to which port he sails, no wind is favourable.
Seneca
If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it.
Marcus Aurilius
When someone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval.
Epictetus
Do you find yourself overwhelmed with stress and anxiety?
Are you struggling to control your emotions, but don’t know how to do it in a healthy way?
Do you feel like your emotions are controlling the way you live?
How understanding Stoicism can help Today
It’s a philosophy begun in 300BC that teaches how to live in harmony with yourself, others and nature and it’s as relevant today today as it was then.
A challenge that so many people these days is that they just don’t know how to learn about themselves and their emotions.
Most people just try to push through their emotions without really understanding what they are feeling.
As a result, they tend to react instead of responding mindfully to the situations.
People also often tend to hold on to their negative emotions not letting them go. This can cause them to become overwhelmed and of course stressed and erratic.
Learning a little about Stoicism can help deal with these issues and much, much more.
One of the pillars of Stoic philosophy is doing things according to our own nature.
That sounds interesting but what does it mean?
Well in over-simplified terms it’s learning to be yourself and not stress about what other people think. Simple stoic principles like these can help us deal with our daily difficult situations and emotions.
To understand more how Stoicism can help us, let’s learn about the people who developed it then how we can implement it into our daily lives.
Famous Stoic Thinkers
Marcus Aurelius
The emperor of Rome from 161-180 AD. He was a Stoic philosopher, and he wrote the book “Meditations” which is a collection of his thoughts on life and how to be a good person and the dangers of becoming attached to things that are not permanent. His teachings continue to be popular and influential.
Epictetus
Born in the 1st century AD, and he lived and taught in Rome. He was a slave before he became a philosopher, and his teachings were based on the idea that we should be masters of our own lives. He believed that we should always try to be happy, no matter what life throws at us
Seneca
A stoic philosopher who lived during the first century AD. He was born in Spain but spent most of his life in Rome, where he became a tutor to the emperor Nero. Seneca is best known for his philosophical works, which explore the Stoic philosophy of living in harmony with nature and accepting what is unavoidable in life.
How to write a Stoic journal
In order to get the most benefit from Stoicism, it is helpful to practice it on a daily basis. One way to do this is by keeping a Stoic journal.
A Stoic journal can help you track your progress, and it can also be a place where you can write down your thoughts and feelings.
The main thing to remember when writing a Stoic or any journaling habit is to be honest with yourself. Don’t try to write in a way that you think is “correct.”
Just write what you’re feeling in the moment, and don’t judge yourself.
Here are some questions that you can ask yourself when writing in your Stoic journal:
Journaling can help you to process your thoughts and feelings, work through your emotions, structure your mornings or evenings and create healthy mental habits.
So why not give it a try? You might be surprised at how much this simple habit can improve your life!
Inspirational Stoic Quotes
I’ve carefully curated some of my favourite Stoic quotes.
I think they’re all incredible in their way, but I’ve highlighted the ones I find most inspirational.
These beautiful insights could have been written last week, but in fact they were written over 2000 years ago.
If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.
Seneca
If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it.
Marcus Aurelius
When someone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval.
Epictetus
Every night before going to sleep, we must ask ourselves: what weakness did I overcome today? What virtue did I acquire?
Seneca
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.
Marcus Aurelius
The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best
Epictetus
To accuse others for one’s own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one’s education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete
Epictetus
A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials
Seneca
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking
Marcus Aurelius
The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury
Marcus Aurelius
We suffer more often in imagination than in reality
Seneca
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it
Marcus Aurelius
There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will
Epictetus
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak
Epictetus
Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears
Marcus Aurelius
Hang on to your youthful enthusiasms — you’ll be able to use them better when you’re older
Seneca
Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretence
Marcus Aurelius
Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness
Epictetus