The central belief of Stoicism is that we should live according to the natural, logical order of the universe. They believed that the world is intelligently designed and controlled by logic or “Reason”. So, to live a good life, people must make choices and act in a way that follows this worldly wisdom. This requires self-control to overcome our desires and align with the most important natural order. Practicing discipline allows us to live in harmony with Nature instead of constantly fighting against it.
The Stoics said that virtue is the only true good
The Stoics argued that virtue is the highest good and necessary for well-being (eudaimonia). Virtue means having excellence of character – things like wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation that come from our ability to reason. We must control our emotions and senses with reason to attain excellence in virtue. So the mastery of self-control is critical to curbing destructive passions and enforcing virtuous choices and actions.
Self-discipline allows us to live virtuously
Therefore, Stoicism says that reason must dominate irrational emotions and impulses to enable virtuous choices and behavior. A prime example was the display of control around the pleasures of the body. While physical pleasure itself is morally neutral, we should restrain our desire for excessive pleasure so that it does not lead to vice. By consciously limiting ourselves, we can train ourselves to handle difficulties when needed and not overdo it in good times. Other strong emotions such as sadness, anger and desire should also be controlled by rational discipline so that we can judge situations.
Practice self-control over passions and urges
Specifically, the Stoics identified essentially irrational passions that must be conquered through diligent self-discipline: appetite, fear, anger, sorrow, and lust. For example, Epictetus said that the strength of our appetite for things like wealth, rich food, or attention comes from our judgments of them – not from the things themselves. We gain self-mastery over these urges by deliberately training our desires rather than needlessly encouraging them. Common stimuli also cause fear and anxiety, but learning to evaluate impressions allows us to manage fleeting passions.
Distinguishing what we control from what we don’t
This ties in with the famous Stoic dichotomy of control – separating what is up to us from what is not. The Stoics said that the only thing in our control is our reasoned choice – our judgments, values and intentions. Everything else, such as the results of our decisions or external events, are ultimately beyond our control and should be considered morally neutral.
Cultivating detachment from external things
Thus, for the Stoics, external things indifferent to virtue include health, wealth, pleasure, pain, fame, death, etc. But it requires the discipline not to become too fixated or dependent on them for happiness. Worthy achievement comes solely from the excellence of one’s soul. Although we may endure hardships, what matters most is that we keep our impressions in check so that we handle trials with grace and act rightly regardless of the situation.
The Discipline of Desire: Wanting What You Already Have
The pursuit of excessive luxury indicates a lack of discipline over insatiable bodily desires. Thus, Stoics practice restraining their desires in order to enjoy the superficial happiness that is already better available. For example, Musonius Rufus required disciples to periodically abstain from ordinary meat and wine to encourage moderation. Disciplining ourselves through voluntary hardship creates gratitude for the basics like food, water, and shelter that most people take for granted. Deprivation management training also builds resilience in the face of adversity. By reducing our needs to the essentials through intentional self-denial, we reduce unnecessary anxiety about things beyond our control.
Building resilience and resilience through discomfort
To this end, overcoming physical discomfort and adversity was an active part of Stoic self-discipline. Seneca described cold baths, athletic exertion, long hikes, and other practices to “prepare for hardship and want.” Hardening the body against avoidable comforts and pleasures creates emotional resilience when physical misfortunes eventually occur. As Marcus Aurelius wrote about this self-control training: “Are you distracted by external things? Then take the time to learn something useful. stop letting yourself be pulled in all directions…” We can withstand turbulent external events by maintaining control of our internal logic.
Self-control leads to unshakable calm
Through stoic self-governance, we gain an unshakable calmness – what Seneca called “stable and immovable” security. This comes from releasing attachments to external things beyond our control, allowing our judgments to remain fixed no matter what. Clarity of thought combined with mastery of desires produces extraordinary smoothness of mind in the midst of adversity – akin to the perfect poise of a skilled acrobat.
Achieving Balance in All Situations
Calm means keeping calm under stress and in good times. Because true good and evil come from our reasonings and not from external events, the Stoic sage calmly responds to all events as part of Nature’s greater design. Mundane ups and downs become glorious perfection instead of disruptive instability once emotional turmoil is overcome through disciplined reason. “Take what Fortune sends as if it came from Providence,” reflected Marcus Aurelius. So regardless of uncontrollable circumstances, with self-control, we bravely endure hardships, act justly, and see events as fateful.
Freedom through self-government of the mind
Epictetus stated that while our physical body is vulnerable, our moral purpose remains invincible. Through meticulous self-control to master impressions and curb desires, we gain an inner freedom that no outer restraint can impede. “On the occasion of every accident … remember to turn to yourself and ask what power you have to turn it to use.” Self-control gives us that enduring power to overcome adversity gracefully. By controlling our judgments and tempering unruly impulses, we rule the only true realm that matters – our volitional mind. Thus, Stoicism says that the discipline of this inner domain ensures genuine calm and moral purpose against the storms of fortune.
conclusion
The ancient Greco-Roman philosophy of Stoicism offers fascinating insights into understanding self-control and resilience amidst the turmoil of life. By strictly submitting our fleeting emotions to the rule of reason, we gain stability that resembles the logical stability of the universe. Through the exercise of voluntary hardships, we strengthen our endurance in the face of inevitable adversity to brave trials when they arise. Further controlling our hot impulses allows us to moderate destructive desires before they control us. By practicing these and other demanding disciplines, Stoicism instills an unwavering honesty and virtue to weather the storms of fortune.
For the Stoic sages, genuine tranquility results from aligning our fleeting judgments with Nature’s magnificent design through conscious self-mastery. What is in our power is not the permanent results of our decisions, but rather the wisdom to judge rightly and act justly regardless of external factors, focusing solely on the government of the volitional mind while accepting what lies beyond control us with grace, providential order emerging from apparent chaos.
