it is possible to achieve peace of mind.

How so? It’s a good question. Society encourages us to pursue

things on the physical plane - fine health, loving relationships, financial security.

In many cultures we link success in the world to happiness.

It’s difficult to conceive another way of looking at things. But to the Stoics,

putting our inner world at the mercy of the outer world is a cause of suffering.

Things in the material world, they tell us, whether it be relationships, jobs, roles,

health, people, experiences, possessions, financial wealth...survival even - are subject

to change and not fully within our control. We get a real life demonstration

of this when we experience cancer.

Perception As Our Superpower

If we are able to control our values, beliefs, and thoughts, we have

the opportunity to adjust our perception. And it’s our perception that causes

pain.

“People are not upset by things themselves, but by the view they take of things.”

— Epictetus

This ability to determine our perception is our superpower. This superpower can bring us greater comfort than anything in the material world because our perception is wholly within our control.

As an example - what if, in a new perception, our measure of success was our ability to accept what is?

The Stoics tell us to place less value on what is happening out there

and more value on our response, ‘it is not what happens to you,

but how you respond that matters,’ says Epictetus. We can take pride

in our mindset even as our external world is crumbling. We can choose

to see things differently. We can welcome challenging circumstances

as an opportunity to strengthen our state of mind.

“ Difficulties strengthen

the mind, as labour does the body”

— Seneca

From a Stoic perspective those who have peace of mind are rich.

We all experience challenging times. We all lose someone or something that is important. How we respond is up to us.

In every moment, we have the choice to stay on the same

mental path or carve another.

We can drown in despair or find a way to move towards peace.

When we experience something beyond our control, that cannot be changed, it is comforting to be told it is possible, with a bit of willingness and courage, to find a new way of looking at things.

A Bitter Pill

Stoicism may seem like a bitter pill to swallow at first. It can be hard to accept we are responsible for our happiness…and our misery.

Try to remember we aren’t responsible for the event that happened, only for how we interpret the event and what we choose to do about it. It works for me but I wonder if the philosophy seems apathetic?

The Stoics choose not to expend energy trying to manipulate the situation to something more likeable. Rather they spend the time changing their minds about the situation. When I first got Ill my objective became inner peace and Stoicism suits this goal well. It feels good when I use my strength to walk away from a battle.

And sometimes in stepping back from hammering on a closed door, I get a broader perspective, and see that there are many other doors wide open.

It’s an easier philosophy to swallow when things aren’t going so well in the material world, like when one experiences a cancer diagnosis.

This is another reason I love this philosophy. It’s there to pick us up when we are down. In my experience, the greater the problem we face, the greater our willingness to make choices that ease suffering. It’s at these moments we have the motivation to tackle something challenging - like a mindset change.

Could this be perceived as a gift of sorts?

What Next?

Identifying Barriers

If you like some of the principles of Stoicism, but recognise some resistance to it, I recommend a bit of self-enquiry.

What are the blocks about?
What emotions are coming up for you?
Is it more healthy to mourn your losses in this moment?
Hurt is real. Accepting and working through the pain you feel about a situation is important. Stoic Philosophy gives us hope, but often it is necessary to give time and attention to our inner most feelings - especially the difficult ones - before we are able to accept the Stoic message of empowerment. If this message resonates with you check out this guided audio to explore your feelings in a safe way. Good luck!

What’s Coming Up Next?

In the next few posts I share the elements

of the cancer diagnosis that brought me to my knees.

And show you how the Stoics helped me up again.