It would seem: what can the sages who lived more than two thousand years ago teach us today? But in fact, their worldview has a lot of useful things. And in the XNUMXst century, it is sometimes worth remembering the principles of stoicism – the ancient philosophical doctrine of how to be happy even in a hopeless situation.
1. Focus on what you can really control.
2. Control your reactions to events.
3. Ask yourself: “Is this really important?”
4. Reflect daily on your own mortality.
5. Value time more than money and things.
6. Keep in mind that your habits shape you.
7. Remember: you have the right to your own opinion.
8. Take back your morning.
9. Subject yourself to analysis, “interview” yourself in detail.
10. Don’t suffer from imaginary problems.
11. Try to see the good in people.
12. Don’t let others hear you complain (even to yourself).
13. Consider why we are given two ears and only one mouth.
14. Don’t compare yourself to others.
15. Live as if you died and rose again and every minute is extra time.
16. “The best way to take revenge on the enemy is not to be like him.” (Marcus Aurelius)
17. Be strict with yourself and patient with others.
18. Question every impression and emotion before you rely on them and act.
19. Learn something from everyone.
20. Focus on the process, not the result.
21. Define what success means to you personally.
22. Find a way to love everything that happens in life.
23. Look for challenges.
24. Don’t follow the crowd.
25. Remember: every person gives you a chance to become kinder.
26. Learn to say no.
27. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
28. Find something every day that will make you wiser.
29. What is bad for the hive is bad for the bee.
30. Don’t judge others.
31. Study the lives of the greats.
32. Farewell, farewell, farewell.
33. Take a small step forward every day.
34. Keep a diary.
35. Be prepared for the inevitable setbacks that life will bring.
36. Look for poetry in the simplest things.
37. Remember that when you do bad things to yourself, you hurt others.
38. Always choose life.
39. Associate only with those who make you better.
40. If someone offended you, remember: this is also your fault, because you chose to be offended.
41. Don’t make your problems worse by complaining about them.
42. Don’t become proud of your successes and learn to face failures with indifference.
43. Keep in mind that the main thing is courage, moderation, justice.
44. Remember: an obstacle is also a path.
45. Ego is the enemy.
46. And the key to everything is peace.
The Roman Stoic philosopher Epictetus said: “There is no need to explain your philosophy. Realize it.” Perhaps you should follow his advice. Do not explain to others all these rules, many of which, I would like to hope, will seem quite reasonable and applicable to you, but simply follow them, demonstrate them by your own example.
We are what we do. We are the totality of our actions. So try to be kind, and not just talk about kindness. Be purposeful, and not tell others about how you will become. Let your actions speak for you. Or, as Marcus Aurelius said, “don’t waste time arguing about what a good person should be – be one.”