Stoicism: An Ancient Philosophy for Good Mental Health
Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that shares many similarities with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). To better understand how stoicism can help with good mental health, it is essential to learn about its main principles and how they can be applied to everyday life.
Controlling What Can Be Controlled
One of the key principles of stoicism is controlling what can be controlled. By focusing on what one has power over, such as thoughts, emotions, and actions, one can feel more in control of their life. To achieve this, it is important to let go of things that are beyond one’s control and instead focus on what can be done to improve one’s situation.
Choosing Your Attitude
Stoics believe that events are essentially neutral and only become positive or negative depending on the story and judgments attached to them. Therefore, they encourage choosing a positive attitude towards life’s challenges. By adopting a positive mindset, one can learn to accept challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.
Wanting What You Get
Another stoic principle is wanting what you get. This means accepting life’s lessons as they come and being content with what one has. Stoics suggest combining emotion with reason and using emotions as information to figure out how to act, rather than letting them overwhelm us.
Living in the Present and Planning for the Worst
Stoics advise living in the present moment, taking risks, and planning for the worst. By living in the present, one can reduce anxiety and stress. Taking risks can also help one learn and grow, while planning for the worst-case scenario can help reduce anxiety by preparing for the worst.
Getting Perspective
Finally, getting perspective and stepping back from problems can help reduce stress and anxiety. Stoics encourage taking a step back and looking at things from a different perspective. By doing so, one can gain a clearer understanding of the situation and feel less overwhelmed by problems.
In conclusion, the principles of stoicism can be powerful tools for achieving good mental health. By controlling what can be controlled, choosing a positive attitude, accepting life’s lessons, living in the present, planning for the worst, and getting perspective, one can live a more fulfilling and balanced life. So why not give stoicism a try and see how it can help you?
Read more about stoicism here
What Is Stoicism? A Definition & 9 Stoic Exercises To Get You Started (dailystoic.com)