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The essence of good is a certain kind of reasoned choice; just as the essence of evil is another kind. What about externals, then? They are only the raw material for our reasoned choice, which
finds its own good or evil in working with them. How will it find the good? Not by marveling at the material! For if judgments about the material are straight that makes our choices good, but if those judgments are twisted, our choices turn bad. — Epictetus
It's been a while since I wrote a post about stoicism, and I'm returning to the topic because the stoics had so much wisdom to share.
The Stoics believed that reason was our greatest asset. Through reason, they assrted, we could find steadiness, stability, and tranquility in almost any situation or environment. They taught that steadiness doesn't come from the outside world but from our inner world.
In a quote from Epictetus, he discusses the nature of the world and how our judgments shape our experience of it. The external material of the world, as we perceive it, is neutral — neither good nor evil. If we strip away our concepts, projections, and judgments, the world is just matter and energy.
Consider something mundane, like a faucet. How do you know it's a faucet? You recognize it as such because you've learned the concept. It comprises other concepts, like a spout and knobs for releasing water. Another crucial concept is water. Now, add another layer—beauty and style. When buying a faucet, you'll likely choose one that appeals to your aesthetic preferences.
Now, consider this: What's a faucet to an ant? When an ant crawls along the spout, does it recognize it as a faucet? Certainly not. To an ant, it's just an obstacle, raw matter to cross to reach its destination.
We don't experience the world as it is; we experience it as we are. The faucet is simply matter and energy arranged for human purposes. It will eventually succumb to entropy, like everything else in the universe. Our concept of a faucet gives it meaning, but only to us.
Epictetus advises us to stop marveling at the material and making judgments about good and evil. It's our perception that determines these values. The universe is raw matter and energy, a blank canvas onto which we project our unique perceptions.
Achieving steadiness in a chaotic world becomes possible when we understnd the nature of the universe. The universe is neutral; things just happen. The Stoic way is to stop judging external events and take control of your response to them because that's all you can control.
10 Stoic tips for finding steadiness:
Be Okay with things you can't change: Understand that some things happen that you can't control, and that's okay.
Focus on what you can control: Figure out what you can control and work on that. Don't worry too much about things you can't change.
See the big picture: Remember that tough times don't last forever. Think about the whole story of your life, not just one bad day.
Practice mindful breathing: When things get tough, take slow, deep breaths. It helps you stay calm and think before reacting.
Don't only care about the result: It's not just about winning or losing. Pay attention to how you play the game and what you learn from it.
Learn from tough times: When things are hard, think about what you can learn from the experience. It can make you stronger.
Focus on virtues: Consider what it means to be wise, brave, fair, and in control of yourself. Try to be those things.
Keep a journal: Keep a journal to write about your day and how you feel. It helps you understand yourself better.
Understand things change: Know that good and bad times don't last forever. Things are always changing.
Pay attention to your words: Watch the words you use. Instead of saying things are bad, say how you can make them better.
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