Thinking Like a Stoic: Reprogramming Your Mind

Hello Steemians,

Today I am touching on a subject that is a very important one, especially in today's age. Today we will talk a bit about reprogramming our minds so that we can accomplish our goals and find more peace of mind.

Of course to talk about this subject we run back a few thousand years to the teachings of the stoics.

Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy that flourished throughout the Roman and Greek world until the 3rd century AD. Stoicism is predominantly a philosophy of personal ethics which is informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. According to its teachings, as social beings, the path to happiness for humans is found in accepting that which we have been given in life, by not allowing ourselves to be controlled by our desire for pleasure or our fear of pain, by using our minds to understand the world around us and to do our part in nature's plan, and by working together and treating others in a fair and just manner.

It was founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC. The Stoics taught that emotions resulted in errors of judgment which were destructive, due to the active relationship between cosmic determinism and human freedom, and the belief that it is virtuous to maintain a will that is in accord with nature. Because of this, the Stoics presented their philosophy as a way of life and they thought that the best indication of an individual's philosophy was not what a person said but how that person behaved. To live a good life, one had to understand the rules of the natural order since they taught that everything was rooted in nature.

Some of the most recognizable philosophers rooted themselves in the teachings of stoicism. Philosophers such as Seneca, Epictetus, Chrysippus, Diogenes, and of course the great philosopher king Marcus Aurelius.

Marcus Aurelius is often regarded as one of the best leaders of the last few thousand years. His diary reveals to us just what a wise man he was and the ideals which he sought to uphold.

He was a master of programming the mind so that he could rule an entire nation with morals and excellence. Time and again he he made it clear that our habits must be destroyed, that we must change our perception and realize the truths of life and what it means to be here.

In life we are only here for a short time in the scheme of things. Most of us enjoy many days here before it is our time but our time comes nonetheless and often people wish they had done more and had better priorities. We must reprogram our minds while we still have the time and the power. While we are still strong of mind and body we must exert our control over what is ours so that we may achieve a life we are truly happy with.

We often concern ourselves with things that don't really matter in the end and we regret it. We must be discerning in what we choose for ourselves and how we choose to behave. In life there are many things we cannot control which is why we must take heed and change ourselves to reach our full potential.

We must reorient ourselves to the truths of nature and change the way we live. You don't have to do anything particularly crazy to see big results. Sometimes it is as simple as thinking about things a little differently and acting from a new perspective. Make a list of the things you find truly important, think of real ways to achieve those things. Create schedules for yourself and stick to them, stop yielding to fear and the "whats ifs" of the future. Know that you have plenty of control over your life, cultivate your focus and go to work on the right things. Face the fears and find the magic of life on the other side.

Wishing you the best on your journeys of the mind.

May you conquer all your fears and realize all your truest goals.

@threebagsfull