Stoicism and exercises for its development

Stoicism reminds us how unpredictable the world is, how short our life is and what we need to be persistent, strong and controlling ourselves and our desires. And finally, that the source of our discontent is our impulsive dependence on reflexive feelings, and not on logic.

Stoicism does not develop complex theories about the world, but it helps us overcome devastating emotions and act where possible. It was created for action, not for endless discussions.

This current had three leaders. Marcus Aurelius, the emperor of the Roman Empire, the most powerful man on earth at that time, sat down every day to write notes about restraint, compassion and humility. Epictet suffered the horrors of slavery to found his own school, where he taught to disciples, who later became Rome's greatest minds. Seneca was able to think about the consolation of his wife and children, when Emperor Nero demanded that he end his life.

Is it possible to develop stoicism in yourself? Yes. Read the works of the three founders of Stoicism, and also perform the three exercises presented in this article. Some of them may seem too radical, so treat them with caution.