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Introduction

It has been said that worrying is like a rocking chair, it keeps you busy but it does not achieve anything. Now that we are in a pandemic, there are a hundred and one things for us to worry about from the health of our family to the fear of losing our jobs. Worrying by itself does serve a purpose. When we worry, our minds slow down and we are able to re-assess our situation and look for solutions. For example, if you worry about your big presentation tomorrow, your mind will go through a checklist of preparations and determine if anything has been left out. The problem arises when we worry unceasingly and this can lead to a high level of anxiety and stress.

Let’s take a look at what the ancient knowledge of stoicism can teach us about worrying and learn the techniques to stop worrying.

What Is Stoicism?

Stoicism is a philosophy of life that emphasizes pleasant emotions, minimizes bad emotions, and assists people in honing their character virtues. It teaches the ability to endure pain or adversity without complaining.

Stoicism gives a foundation for living effectively at any time, in any situation, and in each stage of life. It serves as a reminder of what is genuinely important while also offering practical ways for obtaining more of what is valued.

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One of the most famous Stoic philosophers is Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome (after Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius) and the author of the philosophical treatise Meditations. He ruled Rome from 161 to 180 CE. He has long been regarded as a king who seeks power for the sake of his people rather than for himself. He was introduced to philosophy at a young age, and his Meditations, written while on campaign in his fifties, show that he maintained a strongly philosophical, primarily Stoic, viewpoint throughout his life.

How To Stop Worrying According to Marcus Aurelius

1. Everything is simply history repeating itself.

“No matter what occurs, no matter what happens,” declares Marcus Aurelius. Keep this in mind: From one end of the earth to the other, it's the same old story. It fills ancient and modern history texts, as well as cities and houses. Nothing
new in any way”

Marcus Aurelius claims in his meditations that life is merely history repeating itself. If you worry about losing your job,
millions of other people are also concerned about losing their job. Thus many people have gone through and are going through the same things you are concerned about. This implies that we are all subjected to the same pattern of life, but in new formats and with different personalities each time.

So, why do we fret so much when life merely keeps repeating itself? Worry is what happens when your mind is preoccupied with negative feelings, unclear outcomes, or things that you don't want to happen. So, instead of becoming overly concerned, keep your cool since humans are flexible creatures equipped with a one-of-a-kind capacity that can adapt in accordance with life's ever-changing pattern.

2.Ignore the background noise

“It never ceases,” Marcus Aurelius once said.to astound me: we all love ourselves more than others, but we care more about their opinions compared to our own.”

We live in a noisy world, and our ideas are continually influenced by a wide range of noise generated by other people, who make decisions based on fear and prejudice. Their noise has a significant impact on arousing our fears and making us anxious at times. As a result, we end up paying way too much attention to these folks and spend a lot of time and energy worrying about them and their opinions.

When it comes to not being swayed by others, the ancient Stoics were considerably ahead of their time. The truth is that no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to please everyone. If that's the case, getting irritated by others is a waste of time. The solution is very simple and practical, just ignore the background noise.

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3.Practice Mindfulness

“Remind yourself that it is not the future or what has passed,” Marcus Aurelius advises " that afflicts you, but the present is constantly present.”

Mindfulness in the Stoic tradition is all about observing what is going on around you. In any given situation, it is up to you to focus on doing that well and executing the deed with care. Rather than being concerned about the worst-case scenario, mindfulness entails focusing on the present moment and making the most of it. Worrying, on the other hand, makes you fearful.

You're more likely to get into "the zone" or "flow" if you practice mindfulness. In that way, you can finish your work more quickly and with a greater sense of well-being and end up less stressed. On a daily basis, we can try deep breathing, meditation, exercise, or any other mindfulness practice that works for you. Mindfulness brings us back to the present moment and keeps us grounded.

4.Take care of yourself

“Life is short,” wrote Marcus Aurelius plainly, Get what you want from the present; wisely and justly.”

We, humans, live in a Delayed Return Environment, as described by researchers. The decisions you make today will not benefit you right away. For example, you'll have enough money for retirement later only if you start saving now. Many features of modern civilization are built to postpone rewards to a later date. As a result, humans tend to ponder and worry about the future. Using the above example, you may worry that amount of money saved for retirement may be insufficient due to the rising cost of living.

The solution is to "shift our concerns" from long-term issues to daily activities that will aid us to solve such issues. Therefore instead of worrying whether your retirement savings will be sufficient, you choose to instead acquire money management and investment skills so that you get better returns from your financial investment. The main idea behind this strategy's success is ensuring that your everyday routine both benefits you and keeps you worry-free regarding the uncertainty of the future. To put it another way, this method is all about making the most of what you have right now.

The danger here is that we focus too much on ourselves in selfish ways. That is why Marcus Aurelius cautioned us to be wise and just when we get what we want from the present. This brings us to the fifth concept which is to be of service to others.

5.Be of service to others

Marcus Aurelius poses a question to us. “Do you consider helping others to be less valuable than helping yourself? Is it not worth your time and effort?"

Every moment, according to the Stoics, is an opportunity to exercise compassion. Most of us prefer to think of ourselves as good people who wish to help others and society. Yet we always fall short or fail to follow through on our promises. Between our everyday routines and excessive concern about what might or might not happen, we tend to forget about the world around us and the people who need our support. right now in the future.

Because we don't have enough money to donate, we often don't exhibit charity. However, there are many ways to be generous without spending any money. You can be kind by treating others with respect. You can also volunteer your time to assist an NGO or people in need. Old items that you no longer need whether it's clothes or household appliances can be donated instead of being thrown away.

The truth is that any act of compassion can make a difference in other people's life. We also derived a sense of satisfaction and happiness when we help others. This "feel-good" sensation reinforces our positive self-image and we end up worrying less about ourselves.

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Conclusion

This ancient philosophy offers invaluable knowledge on how we can stop worrying. This knowledge is even more useful in the present time as we lead more hectic lives and are under more pressure.

I like to add a note of caution. I am by no means an expert on stoicism but am just an inquisitive learner. By learning more about this philosophy, I am practicing the fourth concept of taking care of myself by acquiring knowledge and skills to be happy. By sharing this knowledge with all of you, the fifth concept of serving others comes into play.

So what are your thoughts about this article? Are this ancient knowledge still relevant in our modern world? Or do you have other techniques to stop worrying? Please let me know in the comments section.

Do check out my previous posts.

God’s Sustenance And My Poem “Running On Empty’
5 Secret Beliefs That Propel Successful People Towards Their Dreams
Buying Steem On A Dip And Powering Up For The Sixth Time
Life’s Memories
How To Leave A Godly Legacy

Spreading positivity one post at a time.
Charles

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