Stoic Principles - What You Need to Know to Get Started in Stoic Philosophy
Stoic Philosophy has managed to build a cult following over the last 10 years, especially in the male self-improvement space.
And while I think that’s great progress for an area that previously seemed to be on life support, it’s still important that we each evaluate it’s merit for ourselves, rather than blindly follow the trend.
With that in mind, I decided to ask the question - is Stoic Philosophy all it’s cracked up to be? Is it a useful tool that men can use to improve their lives?
After spending several months immersed in books and research, I think it is. And the best way of demonstrating that is to give you an introductory lesson.
Think of it as a pilot episode or a chapter 1, to gauge your interest. I’ll explore some high level Stoic principles and give suggestions on how to implement them in your own life.
But first, we need to make an important distinction between Stoic Philosophy and the modern philosophy we’re all familiar with.
Modern Philosophy vs. Ancient Philosophy
I don’t know about you, but when I hear someone tell me they were a philosophy major at university, I picture them sitting around sipping wine, talking about ethical dilemmas and abstract concepts.
Although part of me enjoys a good debate, it seems like there are plenty of more productive ways to spend that time.
And this is one of the issues with modern day philosophy, it’s so focused on the abstract and the theoretical that it doesn’t really end up helping us in our modern day lives.
Ancient Philosophy on the other hand (of which Stoicism was one of the primary schools), was the complete opposite.
Philosophy as it was originally created, was meant to act as a compass or a guide on how to live well. In that sense, much of what was taught was designed to be practical - actions you could take and values that would guide those actions.
With this in mind, it becomes clear why Stoicism has so much more potential to be useful to you than what you might expect.
It’s designed to be a practical compass to guide you through everything you encounter in life. So, with that in mind, let’s look through some of the top Stoic principles that you need to start following right now.
Maintain Tranquility
As a Stoic, being in control of your internal state is key. Essentially, this means you should live in a way that keeps you calm and level-headed, even when encountering difficulty.
This means preparing yourself for the difficult moments in life, so that you’re able to respond appropriately. On top of that, you shouldn’t allow other people or outside circumstances to affect you emotionally.
This is easier said than done, of course. Which is why the Stoics developed a range of tools and exercises to help you along the way. I’ll make sure to cover them in the next article, so stay tuned!
Act in Accordance with Your Values
Something the ancient Stoics referred to often was ‘virtue’. According to them, being virtuous or acting with high moral standards was one of the keys to living a good life and being an effective person.
The modern day is no different, but this idea definitely needs some translating. And I think the best translation is this - it means you need to live according to your values.
To act in alignment with your values, even when it’s difficult, is to be virtuous.
With this in mind, you’ll need to:
Identify your values - the things you wish to prioritise most in this world
Act in accordance with them whenever possible, especially when it’s difficult. (For example, if you value wisdom, you’re better off spending your evening learning something new rather than watching a movie)
Staying consistent with your values will often mean doing something uncomfortable. If you value honesty, you’ll have to think twice about telling those little white lies.
Another Stoic recommendation in this area is to watch the company you keep. If you want to stay true to your values and avoid hypocrisy, you’re best served by surrounding yourself with people who both share your values and hold you to a high standard.
Even 2,000 years ago, it was clear to the best thinkers that people seem to be the average of those they spend time with.
Practice Self-Discipline & Self-Mastery
Another core Stoic principle is discipline or mastery over one’s self. This boils down to being in control of your actions and desires, regardless of emotions and external events. It means doing the things you know you should be doing, when you should be doing them.
And it’s especially important because it supports everything else. Maintaining your composure, acting in alignment with your values, and fulfilling your duty (which we’ll cover next) are all easier when you’re in control.
“No man is free who is not master of himself.”
Fulfil Your Duty
Last but not least, a Stoic should always fulfil his duties. There are no excuses.
Care for and protect your family and those around you.
Complete your work on time.
Show up for training.
Do the things you said you were going to do.
Hopefully, that last line helped you draw a connection back to the previous section. A man who has mastered himself and developed discipline, will have a much easier time fulfilling his duties.
We all know the feeling of wanting to stay in bed watching Netflix instead of going out in the cold. But disciplined men don’t listen to that urge. They don’t waste time resisting their duty or creating excuses.
They acknowledge their discomfort and then do it anyway. That’s what Stoicism is all about.
Hopefully, the principles above have provided a digestible gateway into the world of Stoicism. And more importantly, I hope it’s usable - that’s what the philosophy was intended for, after all.
Remember; aim to be a man who:
Is in control of himself
Maintains his composure
Lives in alignment with his values
Fulfils his duties and responsibilities
Do all of the above, and you’ll quickly find yourself living a better life. And that’s badass.