We live in a chaotic world where bad things happen every day. The news almost always overflowing with violence, poverty, destruction, economic hardship, social unrest, political turmoil, natural disasters, death, and other negative events. Our own personal lives might be affected by some of these and other local issues. It’s not hard to understand why so many people are plagued by anxiety. Sometimes this can overwhelm and cripple them, leading to even worse problems. Adopting a stoic mindset may be able to help in these cases. The change will not happen overnight but the shift can make a remarkable impact as people begin to adopt the following:
Control the Controllables
We should remember that the world is a big place and we are only a small part of it. Much of what is happening is beyond our control. We have no say about the weather, the broader economy, and other people’s opinion. We can only control our own minds and our own actions. If someone does not like us, then that’s their business. We do not need to be concerned about them as that is not our domain. As long as we live according to our ideals, we have done as well as we could. We should focus on the things that we can change and improve such as our work, our finances, and so on.
Embrace Your Fate
We might not always get what we want. Life can throw us some curveballs along the way. We might find ourselves in situations that we didn’t plan on. Instead of getting agitated by these, stoicism teaches us to embrace our fate and simply make the most of it. If a partner leaves, then stoic mindset accept this and embrace their solitude. They look at the bright side such as newly found freedom, time, and space for introspection. If they lose their jobs, then they quickly turn around to check other opportunities. Perhaps there is something better out there. Even financial hardship can be a valuable experience to develop empathy.
Make Peace with Mortality
We all have limited time on earth. The average person lives to about 80 years old in most developed countries. Death is part of the circle of life. Instead of dreading it, we could embrace this as a motivation to do better and live in a more purposeful manner. Given the life expectancy in your country and your current age, how many years do you have left to accomplish your goals? Find ways to make them happen while you still have time.
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