Just the mere mention of philosophy will likely cause the average person to roll their eyes. They might even dismiss it as one of those boring subjects to which they attach little or no importance. If you bring up the branch of philosophy known as stoicism, you might be categorized as some stuffy academic type that should be avoided at parties. So, what the heck is stoicism and why is it significant, you might ask?

I won’t bore you with a history lesson and the key figures that influenced Stoicism. There is plenty of that around for those interested. Instead, I enjoy digging deep into subjects that interest me. Stoicism being one of many, but one I am passionate about. I try to reduce the often lengthy descriptions of the ancient stoics into just the bare essence of their teachings. Basically, boil it down into simple terms.

In light of this, I’ll provide my definition: Stoicism is a way of thinking that can help you become a better person. That sounds like it could be useful, don’t you think? Everyone of us can readily identify a number of areas we could improve. This may require that we took an honest look in the mirror. Stoicism provides the foundation for truly understanding our own minds, thoughts, and emotions… and more crucially, for learning how to master them. 

Perhaps you’re dealing with anger issues, lack of motivation, grief, or facing a serious illness. Perhaps you just simply lack the strong mental foundation that would enable you to handle these issues. Stoicism can provide you with the ability to manage the curveballs that life pitches at us from time to time. 

Do you think it is time to start putting more effort into improving yourself? Is it time for you to start figuring out how to live life more fully? Maybe start taking action to make that happen? If so, I encourage you to sign up for our email list, join one of our social media groups, and mentally prepare to take your first steps in learning this life-changing way of thinking called stoicism. Lastly, always keep in mind that this is just the beginning of a lifelong journey.