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Picture this: it’s 300 B.C., and you’re dealing with some serious life drama. Your donkey just ran away, your toga has a big wine stain, and you’re not sure if you can face another week of whatever this is. Enter the Stoics—a group of philosophers who believed that you could find inner peace, no matter what chaos surrounds you. If you’re thinking, “Yeah, right,” just wait—these guys had some life hacks that might surprise you…

What is Stoicism?

Stoicism is like the ancient Greek version of “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” But it goes even deeper. The Stoics believed that while we can’t control most things in life (think bad weather, annoying neighbors, or the fact that pizza has calories), we can control how we respond to them. According to the Stoics, our peace of mind comes from focusing on what we can change and accepting what we can’t.

The Stoics broke it down like this: life is split into things we can control and things we can’t. They suggested putting all your energy into what you can control, like your actions, thoughts, and attitudes. That way, you’re not wasting time getting upset about stuff you can’t change—like traffic jams or your boss’s terrible jokes (or mine, eventually 😉).

Meet Epictetus: The Slave Who Found Freedom in His Mind

Epictetus was a big name in Stoicism, and he wasn’t exactly born into luxury. He started life as a slave, which would make most of us pretty bitter. But Epictetus didn’t dwell on his circumstances. Instead, he decided that while his body might be enslaved, his mind was his own. He realized that while others could control his physical actions, only he could control his reactions, his emotions, and his thoughts.

Epictetus is famous for saying, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” If your coffee spills, you can either curse the universe or calmly clean it up. The situation is the same, but your response makes all the difference. Epictetus believed that by controlling your response, you could control your peace of mind, no matter what was happening outside of you.

Marcus Aurelius: The Emperor Stoic

Marcus Aurelius, another Stoic superstar, took Stoicism to the next level—while running the Roman Empire, no less. In his personal journal, which is now known as Meditations, Marcus would jot down thoughts on how to handle challenges with calm and grace. This guy had barbarians at the gate, political betrayals, and way too many toga fittings, yet he still managed to keep his chill.

His advice? Life is short, so don’t waste it on negativity. Marcus wrote, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” In other words, life is going to throw curveballs, but if you can keep your mind steady, you’ve got the upper hand.

How Can Stoicism Help Us Today?

Think about it: life is full of things beyond our control, from traffic jams to job rejections to world events. The Stoics would say, “Hey, let that go!” Instead, focus on what you can control: how you respond, how you treat others, and how you show up each day. Whether you’re handling stress at work or dealing with a tough relationship, Stoicism reminds us that while we can’t control the world, we can control our reactions (though I know it’s probably hard to go through a breakup—wait, I actually don’t, cause I’ve never been in one, but anyway that’s not the matter!). The idea is that by focusing on what you can change, you free yourself from all the other noise.

For the Stoics, happiness didn’t come from things like wealth, fame, or a perfect life. Instead, it came from staying calm and steady, no matter what happened. So, next time you’re about to lose your temper or get stressed out, try asking yourself, “Is this something I can control?” If it isn’t, maybe let it go and take a page out of Marcus Aurelius’s playbook.

Stoicism’s Big Takeaway

At its core, Stoicism is about finding freedom from external chaos by mastering your internal world. It’s about letting go of the things you can’t change and focusing on what you can: your thoughts, actions, and mindset. It’s a reminder that life may not always go our way, but we can always choose how we react.

So, the next time you’re faced with a problem that seems out of your hands, take a deep breath, channel your inner Stoic, and remember that true peace comes from within.

Oh, and good luck with your breakup, by the way! ❤️

XOXO, strangers!