3 Pillars of Stoicism
I have been following the ways of stoic philosophy from the last 1–2 years. It is a work in progress, as it always is in stoicism. But every small increment and improvement towards becoming a better and more disciplined person goes a long way. And through these years I have noticed that 3 things in stoicism pop up again and again. They may not mean exactly as the word says, or even directly relate to proper stoic practice but I think these are the things that I would have loved to know when I was beginning this journey because these are the guidelines on which more complex practices can be built.
1-Awareness: As it goes with many other philosophies, so it goes with stoicism too. Awareness is a central part of everything that has to do with improving oneself. It is the beginning and the end. Although the goal is having complete awareness of all actions and thoughts, it begins really humbly by having an awareness of one’s position in this world. By knowing the need to know more and by acknowledging that you have oceans of this world and of yourself to explore. And on this journey, you must know in your heart your potential and your will to change. And from that point onwards, the sales lift and as the wind rushes to you, you hold steadfast for the wildness of the waters. And you will love it.
2-Acceptance: Acceptance goes two ways in stoicism. First the acceptance of your potential and your limits. Second for acceptance of the world as it is, without any judgement. Stoicism, as many people know, is about securing oneself from the jerks of emotions, and moreover using them as propellers in your journey forward. This comes with accepting who you are and what you lack. It comes with knowing how long a journey you have to travel. To believe in your deepest mind that peace only comes with acceptance. And the same goes for the outer world. No matter how rough the going goes, whatever people say or do, you must make sure that you accept all that as it is and not form opinions or judgements whatsoever. Life since is not a debate. Stoicism shows ways on how to focus on your own actions and reactions and working incessantly on one’s own behaviour and environment.
This brings us to the third.
3-Preparedness: Since you are already handling your present and have already seen the ways of waters, you must now have a vision of the future. You must anticipate everything- the good, the bad and the ugly. You must steer your ship right and like every sailor, you must tie down everything before the storm. That is preparedness. You may never face sea monsters in reality, but you never know for sure. And preparedness in itself is such a wise practice that it grows people leaps and bounds. To already have an idea of the future and being already prepared for it, is an advantage few can and few dare to have. But those who can take this leap will never be surprised. It is similar to Unagi, the dreaded word for Ross from the show ‘Friends’. Only if Ross had already thought of the implications of his ego and overconfidence beforehand, he may have mastered Unagi and eventually the art of being a stoic.
In the end, keep travelling and keep sharing your stories. Stoicism is not a condition you achieve, instead, it is a never-ending battle, for which no winners are announced but just some warriors are made. Be that warrior.
