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This week is all about Stoicism. Creating a strong mental attitude and a healthy body.
It's a hot topic on social media. Mainly to promote masculinity and the rise of testosterone in men. So why should I encourage you to apply these rules to your life?
They are simple routine changes that women can benefit from too.
Concentrate every minute like a Roman – like a man – on doing what's in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice. And on freeing yourself from all other distractions. Yes, you can – if you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in life, and stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centered, irritable. You see how few things you have to do to live a satisfying and reverent life? If you can manage this, that's all even the gods can ask of you. Marcus Aurelius
Stoicism originated around 304 BC and was founded by Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. It was also practiced by George Washington, Immanuel Kant and Theodore Roosevelt.
Marcus Aurelius left behind his diary "Meditations", in which he collected all his thoughts. These were his three most important lessons:
Our minds have great power.
People will always do awful things and we're only responsible our own virtue.
Our morality and the shortness of life.
Stoicism promotes temperance, wisdom, courage and justice.
⚔️ Temperance: Develop daily habits that allow you to be successful, happy and great. Find balance.
🦉 Wisdom: Listen more than you talk. You can only learn if you have an open mind, and can't learn if you think you already know. You can learn anything if you go slowly and deliberately and find wisdom.
🦁 Courage: Are you brave enough to face your problems? Can you speak your mind, or do you get dismissed? Let your actions speak.
⚖️ Justice: Accept life as it is and people as they are. Find the same strength to never accept injustice and to fight it.
Stoicism is also used in psychotherapy for cognitive behavioral therapy and depression. It focuses on what we can control, e.g. our thoughts and actions. It seems to be controversial, as it suppresses joy and love.
You can practice Stoicism in your life:
Cold shower in the morning
Eat inexpensive but healthy foods.
Run, lift weights or walk.
Read, take notes, review.
Get enough sleep for a good rest.
Some well-known Stoic women were Hipparchia or Elizabeth Carter. Elizabeth was an activist, committed to charitable works and is considered a feminist pioneer.
I hope you have learned something new.
[Published in Writers Fusion]