Stoicism is an interesting school of thought. It has been around since the third century, but unknown to many. This branch of philosophy, just like an old reliable walking stick, is a guide of life that solely focuses on reason rather than faith in the pursuit of virtues. It also asserts that virtue is happiness, and judgment should be based on behavior and never on words. Herein are principles that define stoic mindset.
You cannot change things outside your control, but you can change your attitude towards them. Mindfulness is one fundamental principle of stoicism. You should recognize events in your life that you have no control over. Instead of getting frustrated and venting over these events, develop a positive attitude to counter them. This way, you can maintain a healthy mind.
Do not fall prey to the materialistic nature of modern society. Modern society is characterized by undying lust for material wealth, which has been fueled by exposure to media. By seeing how other people are doing, one develops instinctive competitiveness. This has seen people do immoral things to obtain riches. Stoicism encourages one to refrain from loving material wealth too much.
Picture life without your possessions and the people you cherish to appreciate them truly. The more possessions we acquire, the more we want. This is human nature. Finding happiness all lies in being grateful. We must love to appreciate what we have and not take anything for granted. Take a moment to imagine life without what you have, and you will appreciate what you have.
Learn to be cheerful in all your interactions. Happiness comes from within and appreciating what exists around us. Stoic mindset asserts that happiness can be independent of other factors, and human interaction by itself should be enough to make us cheerful. This does not necessarily mean that stoics should not enjoy the good things in life; it merely means that these things should not be the basis of our happiness.
Actions are better than words. Practicing the virtues, you believe in beats going around preaching them. Stoicism is practiced to have an impact on the world and to improve the quality of our life. In any situation, ask yourself what the best course of action should be and act on it. These actions, of course, should be morally appropriate.
To define stoic mindset is not rocket science. By learning to do what is right, have control over your emotions and reactions, appreciating what you have, and finding joy in human interactions, you are sure of living a happy life.
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