Overview
- Stoics used the word freedom to describe achieving equanimity as a state of mind despite life’s unavoidable setbacks and misfortunes.
The 4 stoic virtues
- The first aspirational value, high character, is taken from the 4 Stoic virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, justice.
3 steps for being your best self
- Pause. Recognise what you do and don’t control
- We do not control what goes on in the external world. Remove your desires. They are probably first world problems anyway.
- We do have control over our responses to what happens, our judgements, our character and our values and goals. Respond in the way that fosters inner peace
- Maintain tranquility
- Act with high character; do your best
Hedonic Treadmill
- The hedonic treadmill (also called ‘hedonic adaptation’) is when our happiness is dependent on external attainments, like fame or fortune, that never fully satisfy us.
- A famous billionaire can just as easily feel frustrated and disappointed with their lives as those on the other end of the economic spectrum.
- Stoicism teaches us instead to recognise that our tranquility depends on our ability to control what we can (chiefly our reactions), rather than what happens to us, which we cannot control.
- The game of wanitng more than what you have never stops. Even billionaires get rejected, lose deals, etc. Their disappointments can ruin their day as much as the more mundane tribulations.
- Victor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning’ is a wonderful lesson in seeing the best in life no matter how bad circumstances.
Self-governance
- Don’t waste this precious time to be alive.
- Be the best version of you, the best yet!
- Nothing prevents you from acting with high character, even if others don’t reciprocate
- Own mistakes. Fix them and move on.
- The quality of your relationships is the best asset you have.
- Contemplate what you want others to say at your funeral, and act now accordingly.
- Live your best life!
“The obstacle is the way” – Marcus Aurelius
