Stoicism is an increasingly popular philosophy: but what is Stoicism? Simply put, Stoicism is a philosophy of happiness. Stoics try to live happier lives by addressing ways of thinking that make people unhappy. Specifically, Stoics focus on:
- Being grateful for what we have
- Caring only about things we control
- Acknowledging that bad things can happen
In this article, we discuss what Stoics believe and what they do.
What do Stoics believe?
Stoics believe that our happiness is our own responsibility, regardless of what we are going through in life. The early Stoics realized that human beings are not naturally inclined to think this way. Instead, people tend to attach their happiness to future goals or hypothetical situations.
Think about it. How often have you thought: I’d only be happy if:
- I had more money
- I didn’t have to go to work
- I had more friends
- I were with a certain person
- Something bad didn’t happen to me
- I had better parents
With this approach, happiness is seen as the emotion we have when we get what we want. Of course, once we get what we want, our happiness is temporary – we soon want something more. Stoicism is a philosophy that reframes the conversation around happiness. It argues that true happiness does not need to be, and in fact, cannot be tied to getting what we want. Happiness comes from appreciating what we already have.
What do Stoics do?
Practicing Stoics perform exercises that help them appreciate what they already have.
Some Stoic exercises require physical action. A common Stoic exercise involves temporarily fasting so that we better appreciate food when the fast ends. Another is to keep a daily journal, in which we acknowledge what we appreciated about the day and how we could have been even happier.
Other Stoic exercises just involve thinking. For instance, Stoics practice negative visualization – a kind of meditation in which we imagine losing things that are important to us. Stoic philosophers realized that even just imagining losing a loved one or a prized possession would make us appreciate those things as we go about our day.
Even more simply, Stoics often remind themselves that someday we will all die. This clear, though scary, thought reminds us that each day is a gift.
Conclusion
Why is Stoicism experiencing a resurgence? No one knows for sure. It could be a reaction to the constant barrage of advertising and social media that focuses on our ‘wants.’ Or it could be a response to no longer living in an honor culture, where the culture is designed around the success of the collective rather than individual liberty. Regardless, Stoicism can provide a way of thinking that helps people find happiness in modern times.
Interested in learning more? Check out some of our other articles on Stoicism:
