6 Life-Changing Stoic Quotes (Only if applied)
This is what Marcus Aurelius would've looked like if were alive today. Not so different from the average chap. Would you say he looks like someone 2000 years ahead of his time?
He reigned from 161 to 180 CE, and he was a stoic philosopher.
Once the most powerful man in the entire world, yet he decided to live a modest and normal life, elevate and enlighten others rather than just rule over them. He could've been a dictator, and no one would remember him now, but he was a stoic and we still talk about him and admire him every day. The philosophy of stoicism, from my perspective, is to accept life as it is, to be internally satisfied with ones decisions and to be hyper aware of ones surroundings.
1. You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
What this means is you don't have power over many things that happen to you, so might as well focus on what you do have power over, and that's your thoughts and your perception of what has happened/been done to you. Stoics live the simple life, and their wall of thoughts protects them from everything outside, for that fortress is impenetrable.
2. Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. - Epicurus
One of the great stoic virtues is gratitude. Once a day, every day, you should write down 3 things you're thankful for. It's a nice reminder to appreciate the things one has, rather than wishing for things one doesn't have. In other words, it's much better enjoying the present without any thought of the future and past, than to spoil present with thoughts about the future and past.
3. The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best. - Epictetus
Another quote that is as true for the modern age as it was for the ancient ones in the times of ancient Greek and ancient Rome. If you keep company with 4 losers, soon you'll be the 5th. If you keep company with 4 winners, it's a matter of time before you win too. Always choose company of mutual benefit, where both parties get elevated to be their best version of themselves.
4. The choice is: I can either freak out right now for X minutes or I can meditate for X minutes
You can find stoicism in any branch of life. The guy who just continues to drink his coffee even though there's turmoil outside, for he is in his own present moment and undisturbed by forces he can't control. If stress comes over you, rather than thinking yourself to madness you must meditate, to give yourself a moment to reset and let your mind drain the negative.
5. We suffer more in imagination than in reality
6. He who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary
These two quotes go hand in hand, and for who ever needs to hear this, overthinking leads to unnecessary stress. If something is outside your control, why bother trying to control it? If someone is within your control, what's to worry about?
A stoic is someone who does not care about things in this world that most people care about. Especially in todays society where materialistic things are cared for more than nature itself. A stoic is one with nature, understands the values of everything in his life, appreciates and is grateful for everything and everyone he has.
The stoics believed that life is not easy, and they don't give you false hope that the future will be amazing just to cheer you up and make you happy. Being more positive doesn't exist. They believed we shouldn't try to hope for something better, but to embrace what we do have. Hope is the heroin of emotions (according to the stoics) - and the higher you get lifted up, the deeper you'll fall.
They declared that negative emotions are the product of mistaken judgements. That our expectations for reality were incorrect and we should live in accordance to reality.
Almost nothing material is needed for a happy life, for he who has understood existence.
- Marcus Aurelius