This is Why Practice Stoicism
It's in your best interest to control your thoughts.
If one were to tell you the value of Stoic philosophy, it would be this.
Stoicism promises one thing: power over oneself. If this philosophy can be mastered, the dismissal of useless and often negative emotions and opinions becomes easy, and enjoyment of the good life is more profound as there’s no anxiety about what’s to come and the emptiness of lusting after what one lacks. The doctrine helps a man see that the trials he experiences are not as dreadful as he believes for they do not wound his inherent nature, his essence: the soul or in modern terms — character. Neither can mayhem touch his mind and hinder his capacity to formulate steadfast thoughts against a capricious, indifferent, unforgiving life. He is invincible. Excellence is also within this man’s grasp because, in the knowledge of what his purpose entails, he knows what brambles and temptations to avoid and thus by commanding himself amid these monsters that scare and seduce many out of the way, he’s well on the path to joining the ranks of the towering figures in history.
Confidence is abundant in a person who understands that he can indeed endure a magnitude of damage and thrive in what discourages many from pursuing their goals. Furthermore, he can withstand these difficulties without complaining, pitying himself, or feeling helpless. Such indomitability can only be achieved if a man claims and governs his life by viewing himself as more than a mere mortal epitomized by his occupation, clothes, woman, vehicle, or the pecuniary contents of his pocket.
Man must acknowledge himself as a divine entity distinct from those trivial concerns — one that is too sublime to gripe, yield to pain and pleasure, or maintain a sour disposition.
The Stoic is an extraordinary being, superior to common men because he perceives obstacles and temptations as opportunities to exhibit or refine his magnificence, the embodiment of which are the four virtues: courage, fairness, sagacity, and discipline.
This code of conduct offers him a chance to exercise the fruits of his training as he traverses an uncertain world: a resilient mind, faith and respect for his reasoning powers, and an unwavering heart. He also gets pleasure from affirming his established knowledge about how the world works and his role in it as a powerful agent able to control his thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and ensuing actions. Placing his wellness in this controllable realm renders him immeasurably potent, he decides what matters, what gets to him, and what brings him joy.
Stoics are not without the clarion call of ambition. The journey toward power acquisition becomes exhilarating for these distinguished men as they seek beneficial discomfort in their professions with two aims: to test their capability to master themselves, apply rational strategies helping them gain an edge over opponents, and use their dexterity in reasoning to craft a more favorable result from the bad cards life often deals.
Even death, the most disastrous event to befall a man, is beneficial to a Stoic. Only the failure to control himself is a bad thing.
Therefore, let life unleash its whims and wrath while the philosopher himself will adhere to his job in response to what happens: making good judgments, acting in accord with those precepts, and a radical acceptance of all that happens.
“Head up, chest out,” the Stoic acclaims.
One therefore ought not merely to carry this grand ideal gently, as though it were a frivolous concern. Or cowardly, as though it were too burdensome. Insistence with oneself is crucial. One must pursue this objective toward perfecting rationality vigorously, with the resolute spirit of a criminal bound to his vices, and take possession of what nature has deemed rightfully his while rebuffing the tendency toward passive gaiety.
It’s also the function of a Stoic to desire greatness in his craft and protect it from pervasive nihilistic tendencies present today as liberty, power, and strength aren't playthings to be made light of. One must contend for those qualities, for all that is worthy and delightful in life emanates from them. There’s no kinship, offspring, architecture, academics, engineering, and quality sustenance without beauty in human character.
This philosophy reared robust men, rendered all calamities trifling, and secured perpetual joy in the men of old. Look at Marcus Aurelius. And the Roman Empire in general. Even life was cheap in comparison to honor for these glorious men; there was nothing worth valuing more than rationality and the four virtues. Not money, not women. Not riches. This audacious disregard for life was a defining characteristic of this culture and it was the primary reason they enjoyed plenty and mastered their foes. Truly, as Zeno said, “Man conquers the world by conquering himself.” And it is reminiscent of the perspective expressed by Tom Wolfe's character Conrad in 'A Man in Full,' a sentiment full of vigor realized when he asserts,
"Only Epictetus...had been deprived of everything, incarcerated, tortured, enslaved, threatened with death. And only Epictetus had stared his tormentors unflinchingly in the eye and declared, 'You execute your necessary actions, and I will fulfill my own, which embodies living and dying like a man.'"
Now imagine what one could achieve in today’s safer world with this greatness of the soul.
The Stoics understood what stops most men from pursuing greatness isn't the horrendous magnitude of the journey, but the belief that their present agony will persist indefinitely. Consequently, people amplify their suffering and capitulate the moment they conceive an image of an unending hardship. This attitude, however, is only indicative of a myopic vision and an apprehension of existence. No adversity can outlast the consistent, unflagging exertion of determination provided one remains undeterred by doubts, pride, fear, comfort, and ennui.
A wise man involved in the daily training of his mind also understands that there exists a great chasm between discomfort and death for neither the body nor the brain is so feeble as to surrender at the first onslaught of pain and stress unless the affliction has been severe or one has been weakened by an indulgent, unmanly existence. This suffering may affect the corporeal form, but it does not touch the spiritual domain or diminish the Stoic’s ability to evoke high-reaching audacious thoughts and actions that pull him from the dregs of life.
There is also a nuanced form of power against reality when a person embraces and loves their destiny and the nature of their service to others bestowed upon them by the universe, aptly called Amor Fati, wherein one wants nothing else but what is. Thus, a person’s mindset can effortlessly transform from "I eagerly anticipate the end of this!" to "The duration of this discomfort holds no concern to me until I have achieved my objective because I am invulnerable to harm, stress strengthens me and any bad outcome works to my benefit."
Individuals master this skill by segmenting the tasks ridden with discomfort into tolerable units, while constantly applying the same principles throughout each moment, without forfeiting their composure — ultimately conquering their circumstances and attaining their desires. Such people harbor the capacity to view matters from a lengthy chronological perspective, cognizant of a fundamental reality: time ticks forward so whatever one is going through will pass — and it can lead to great power if handled with sagacity, dexterity, and stamina.
Besides, a Stoic knows the current moment is the only guaranteed possession he has, he may not get another opportunity to establish courage, patient endurance, high-mindedness, and dominance in battle. Neglecting the present could come at the cost of a good life story, a life worth living. Therefore, it becomes of paramount importance to navigate the present moment and its unique intricacies with the utmost exertion, promptness, and elegance that one can muster so that even upon retrospection, having upheld integrity and heeded inner virtuous counsel throughout the trials, one can live and be proud.
The great man possesses the agency to determine what a life event means to him. There's no sensation more invigorating than demonstrating grace amidst duress, due to the understanding that such stress constitutes an opportunity to bolster one's strength, power, and resilience. That this discomfort is part of the game to getting better. Such awareness and wisdom are beneficial, because upon recognizing the liberty inherent in one's selected responses - understanding that in the mind nothing is fixed - one can confront uncertainty, melancholy, or desolation with elevated confidence.
Thus, in light of this bestowed freedom to dictate the contours of one’s personal experiences, what could be more laudable, yield more fruitful opportunities, or present a greater challenge to life's turbulent occurrences than to navigate each incident with a serene smile, and calm composure, unwavering grandeur of spirit, and the assured projection that all shall unfold favorably, even if the body feels weak, pain almost drowns logical judgment, or mental fatigue edges its inroad.
The ability to act in this manner without suppressing emotions, but feeling their fangs grate through one with force, vendetta, and maliciousness while remaining unmoved is a great feat and accomplishment for humanity.
That’s Stoicism. A sublime dance with reality. A dance where one is neither led by passion nor seduced by terror, but moves in rhythm with the naked truth of existence. It acknowledges the Dionysian fervor, yet chooses to embrace the Apollonian serenity, consciously shunning the insatiable appetite for pleasure or the debilitating dread of pain. Stoicism is neither a refuge for the weak, nor an opiate of the meek, but a revaluation of values, a rare courage to face the world in all its chaos and order, a willing affirmation of life - with all its beauty, ugliness, joy and suffering.