WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY BECOMES THE WAY
and how you use them. We often waste time on trying to control things over which we have no power, such as other people’s thoughts and opinions, as well as changes in society and in politics. Often, when we try to control the uncontrollable, we are left feeling powerless, angry and frustrated. Stoicism teaches us that there are things in our control and things that aren’t. The cardinal virtues ensure that we stand guard at the door of our minds, deciding what has an impact over us and thinking rationally, not emotionally, about how we will respond. For as Epictetus said: ‘What upsets people is not things themselves, but their judgements about these things.’ By viewing the obstacle not as an obstacle but an op- portunity, adversity can be turned into a platform of growth rather than destruction, a platform of antifragility. While fragile systems are those that are weakened or even broken under pressure, resilient systems are able to handle pressure. Antifragile systems can benefit from stressors, shocks and disorder, as opposed to being harmed by them, and are not just robust or resilient in the face of stress, but actually grow stronger as a result of it. Antifragile systems include the human body, inno- vative businesses and thriving ecosystems. What do they all have in common? They benefit from adversity rather than crumbling under it. By seeing the opportunity rather than the difficulty, our minds and spirits can become antifragile through the practice of Stoicism, helping us to view obstacles not as obstacles but as ‘The Way’ – the opportunity for growth and development, no matter the circumstances we are put in. The Stoics faced incredible amounts of hardship and difficulty: Seneca found him- self in the unfortunate position of being advisor to Nero; Epictetus had his leg broken and was tortured as a slave; and Marcus Aurelius endured the heavy responsibilities of being Emperor. They could have easily thrown in the towel, given up and run away from their situation, yet they fought to the end. As Marcus Aurelius wrote, ‘what stands in the way becomes the way’. It is hard, and it will always be hard, to act in a manner which is true to what you believe; to see everything as an opportunity; to embrace all that happens to you; and to always follow the virtues. It is important to remember not to beat yourself up over every mistake you make, but to learn from those mistakes, and to improve upon them every day, in order to become antifragile and to make progress on this journey through life. ◎
The birth of Stoicism In the 3rd century BC, there lived a wealthy merchant called Zeno. While on a voyage from Phoenicia to Piraeus, his boat, which was full of expensive Tyrian purple dye, sank as a result of a devastating storm in the Mediterranean Sea. Imagine you were Zeno: how would you feel? Angry? Cheated? Frustrated? Well, for Zeno of Citium, this was not the case. He could have lost himself in despair, but instead he accepted the outcome as something completely outside of his control. Now a poor man, Zeno travelled to Athens, where he discovered and read books on philosophy, as well as meeting Crates of Thebes, one of the most famous scholars of the Cynic school. Zeno went on to study with the Cynics, and then started his own school of philosophy: Stoicism .
Zakariah Zahid (Year 10) considers the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, arguing that it has much to offer to us in the modern age
M uch injustice has been done to the word ‘stoic’, as it has made its way down through the ages. This philosophy, which proposes that we live with virtue and according to nature, has been dumbed down to mean ‘emotionless’. Some have even linked Stoicism to ‘toxic masculinity’, arguing that it is harmful to both men and women, yet this could not be further from the truth. Stoicism is not about suppressing emotions, but rather about managing them, understanding them, and using them as a constructive force. Potentially destructive emotions such as anger, frustration and anxiety can be overcome, not by the denial of their existence, but through using them in a positive way to build, rather than to de- stroy. Stoicism encourages us to think logically over what drives us to feel a particular emotion, and to consider whether it should have that impact over us. The Stoics weren’t perfect: even Marcus Aurelius, who is regarded as one of the great Stoics, kept his own personal diary, now known as the Meditations , as a way of reinforcing his own Stoic beliefs and staying mindful of the values he held dear. Stoicism is not a guarantee of perfect behaviour, but it can provide a set of guidelines and practices which aim to help individuals live a purposeful and meaningful life. The philosophy of Stoicism offers ways of overcoming ad- versity through rational thinking. It is a philosophy which has been used by a huge variety of people, from famous leaders such as Nelson Mandela and George Washington, to former slaves such as Epictetus. It has even been used in psychology, with CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) borrowing from Stoic concepts. Modern society has left many people feeling a lack of meaning and purpose, and this has driven many towards hedonism, nihilism and depression. In a world of anxiety and confusion, Stoicism
promises to be the voice of reason. Many still use this ancient philosophy, from sports coaches and senators to army generals. Stoicism is most often used in high-stress and difficult environments as a coping mechanism, and as a way to keep calm, by viewing every external thing that happens, positive or negative, as an opportunity to prac- tise the four ‘cardinal virtues’: wisdom, justice, courage and moderation. The primary goal of a Stoic is not to seek temporary pleasures, nor to create vast amounts of wealth, but to live a virtuous life, prioritising emotional wellbeing over materialistic goods. To the Stoics, money, wealth and power are neutral: neither good nor bad. Their good- ness or badness is dependent on how you perceive them
Instead of thinking like this… ‘Why did this happen to me?’ ‘I can’t do this.’ ‘People are always out to get me.’ ‘I’m always stressed out.’
Why not think like this… ‘Many people throughout history have been in the same position as me; I’m not the only one.’ ‘This will be a difficult challenge, but that’s what will make it worthy.’ ‘We were born to work together like feet, hands and eyes; like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: this is unnatural.’ (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations ) ‘We suffer more in imagination than reality.’ (Seneca) ‘be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.’ (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations )
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THE ALLEYNIAN 711
OPINION, INTERVIEWS & FEATURES
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