Stop Blindly Practicing Stoicism

Photo by David Marcu on Unsplash

Stoicism is a starting point.

But it should not be your entire philosophy.

You need to develop your own philosophy. Your own moral code.

Live by your own principles based on your observations and experiences.

Many cling to one philosophy without creating their own. But this blind adherence is not good philosophical practice. It’s cult-like.

Today, let’s dive into a few problems with Stoicism:

A philosophy for the common person

Stoicism was originally a philosophy for people to deal with their misfortunes in life.

It taught people how to live "in agreement with Nature." 

In other words, Stoicism taught people to accept their circumstances and make the most of them.

The philosophy was taught by Zeno, the founder of Stoicism.

He taught his philosophy in a public space known as the Stoa Poikile, or "Painted Porch" in English. The Stoa Poikile is the namesake for the Stoic philosophy.

The target audience for Zeno’s teachings was peasants.

There was some upward mobility back then in Ancient Rome, but it wasn't anywhere near as easy as it is today. Most peasants remained peasants their entire lives.

This wasn’t a philosophy designed to empower you to strive for more. It was a philosophy designed to make the most of what you’ve already got.

The Stoics taught their students to seek indifference when faced with life’s trials and tribulations out of their control. The problem is, how do you know if something is truly out of your control or not? Many people give up before exhausting every possible option. Others give up without even trying to improve their circumstances.

The Stoic philosophy leaves something to be desired if you’re hungry for success and prosperity.

Your philosophy should give you some fire in the belly. It should give you spirit, drive, and hunger.

The interpretation problem

The Stoics also teach you to create freedom from "passions" or emotions through the power of reason.

But those who strive to follow Stoicism to the T often miss the point of this teaching. They interpret it too literally and seek to destroy any control that their emotions have over them.

There are instances where we should allow our emotions to run free. The key is to not allow your emotions to get the best of you. They shouldn’t cause you to make bad, irrational decisions.

Here are a few examples of when letting your emotions run free would be appropriate:

-Experiencing awe from experiencing the beauty of nature

-When something good happens to a friend or family member

-Celebrating an accomplishment

This article isn't to say that a philosophy created for peasants is bad. And it's not saying that other people can't benefit from Stoicism, either.

Look at Marcus Aurelius for example. He's considered one of the last great emperors of Ancient Rome. His personal diary, known today as a book called Meditations, is loaded with great wisdom he collected from his time on the throne.

Wrapping up

The point here is that Stoicism has some great benefits, and it has some drawbacks too.

If you want to practice Stoicism, great! But keep in mind that it's not a perfect philosophy by any means. You should fill in the gaps where you feel this philosophy doesn't fit your moral code.

Your life philosophy should be aligned with how you observe and interact with the world around you.

Don’t try to strictly follow Stoicism or any other common philosophy.

Create your own philosophy and follow it instead.