Life is short! The average human lifespan is less than eight decades. When we’re young, we rarely think of “the end.” We are under the illusion, or denial, that our end is so far in the future that it isn’t worth the mental effort to consider it. The older we get, the more those thoughts creep into our heads. Regardless of whether we block that thought or openly accept it, we are all on a path that can’t be altered. Facing it straight-on is an important concept of Stoic philosophy.

We will all die, some sooner than others. So, how do we live fully? How do we experience the best life that we possibly can? This is a common thought for everyone, including those that consider themselves as Stoic. The first thing we must understand is that our time here is important. Don’t waste your time on pointless activities. Doing so is a waste of both your time here and your potential.

We need to focus on living life intentionally. What exactly does that mean? It is common to waste our lives by not establishing solid goals, examining our motives, and embracing our desires with reasoned thought. If we don’t concentrate on those things, we will be in a state of constant turmoil since they will conflict with each other. Basically, your proverbial wheels will spin and you will not get anywhere. This isn’t the way of Stoic philosophy.

You must establish a vision for your life and be consistent in achieving it. Don’t just go through life as a ship without a captain. You are the one that controls what you do and how you do it. Do not fall into the trap of allowing useless activities that merely distract you to rule your mind and actions. Don’t allow by whatever distracting influence is winning your thoughts without examining if it fits into your goals and aims. Don’t allow things to suck up your precious time because you aren’t focused.

It is easy to let our busy lives overwhelm our thoughts and fall into a state of worry about the future. Worry isn’t your friend! It robs you of living fully in the moment and enjoying your time here. So many people I know become caught up in their worries. Remember, as you continue becoming stoic, that you will be developing exceptional abilities to reason and think through events, obstacles, and problems. Don’t fear the future! Don’t worry about the future, either. You’ll be facing it with a solid mind that can handle anything that life throws your way. Look at it as a challenge, not something to worry about. Focus on what you need to do today and trust that you’ll be able to handle anything in the future, because you can!