Applying Stoicism in 2024
The ancient Stoics took a systematic approach to living. The resurgence of this philosophy in modern times is a testament of how little human nature has changed over time.
Roman emperor and famous Stoic, Marcus Aurelius, hailed the four virtues of Stoicism in his now-published journal Meditations,
“If, at some point in your life, you should come across anything better than justice, prudence, self-control, courage—than a mind satisfied that it has succeeded in enabling you to act rationally, and satisfied to accept what’s beyond its control—if you find anything better than that, embrace it without reservations—it must be an extraordinary thing indeed—and enjoy it to the full.”
To practice Stoicism, it requires one to seek answers and truth from within and to ignore what is outside their influence. It is to seek control over one’s self, and no one else.
It’s not enough to simply believe the tenets of this philosophy, but to live them. We can interpret the ancient teachings of the Stoics and apply them to modern obstacles.
On digital minimalism
In a society of endless distractions it’s easy to be emotionally swayed by every new form of stimuli, because that’s what they were designed to do. Stoicism reminds us that we are in control of our thoughts, emotions, and how we react to the impulses of life. It’s possible to disconnect and go against the grain of the modern technological movement. Ditch the smartphone. Unplug the router. Detach from the FOMO, advertisements, and links to TikToks. It only requires discipline and a confident answer when people ask about your Nokia flip-phone.
Digital minimalism, or minimalism in general, is a modern application of Stoicism. The Stoics believed in a concept of ‘preferred indifference’ that guided their decision-making. To be preferably indifferent is to perceive something as neutral and it having no impact or control on your attention or behavior. Eliminating these distractions and minimizing external stimuli can benefit us all greatly.
A surplus of digital device usage has been linked to many mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and lowered self-esteem. When we take this leap away from our devices, we naturally find ourselves more grounded and centered.
On journals
Ryan Holiday, popular writer on Stoicism, argues that journaling is Stoicism, and that you can’t have one without the other. This process of reflection and mental exercise is an integral part of the routine of a Stoic. Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca were avid writers of themselves, to themselves.
Daily uncensored journal writing keeps us unabashedly self-aware and reminds us of what we’ve done (good or bad) and how we can improve and live better lives as a result.
Meditations is an entire collection of a Roman emperor who struggled with his morality, values, decisions, and how to withhold them to a higher standard while maintaining effective leadership of an Empire in the midst of a war and plague. His writing is humble, and he reminds himself of his own universal truths.
Writing can truly encapsulate and develop streams of thought. It can also reinforce and express them in a powerful way; writing is an extension of the Stoic mind.
On the passions
“Let thy chief fort and place of defense be a mind free from passions. A stronger place and better fortified than this, hath no man.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The Stoics believed that a happy life was one free of passions, or the impulses prefiguring action which defied reason and the rational mind. They categorized the passions as Distress, Fear, Lust, and Delight. Good-feelings were something else entirely and divided into Joy, Wish, and Caution. The wise person is one who is free from passions and experiences good-feelings.
Stoic (as in "Stoic") adj.: seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive; "Stoic courage"; "Stoic patience"; "a stoical sufferer”
On the sage
Wisdom is analogous with the term philosophy and a ceaseless pursuit of those who seek it. To be wise is to use one’s knowledge, experience and common sense to navigate life and face all of its obstacles. It is to have the ability to contemplate deeply and acknowledge one’s own ignorance. To ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates and Plato, philosophy meant the love of wisdom (see etymology of Greek philo and sophia).
The Stoics viewed people as either knowledgeable or ignorant. They define what they call a sage as one who is free of the passions and knowledgeable, but remains an unattainable ideal rather than a tangible possibility. Yet, still, they held a firm opinion and offered no middle ground. There were only sages and fools – those morally corrupted and unfortunate souls.
A sage was conceived as an individual immune to fate itself, and the way Marcus Aurelius describes it, one who has entered godhood. “...who has knowledge of the beginning and the end, and of that all-pervading Reason which orders the universe in its determinate cycles to the end of time”
If I were to apply Stoicism to my life in 2024, it would take the form of: digital minimalism, habitual journaling, striving for a life free of passion, and a continuous pursuit of knowledge.