What Ancient Philosophers Teach us About How to Live
During a discussion with a friend about how to live, I remembered a book that I read last year, titled Lessons in Stoicism, by John Sellars, a short book, just 79 pages, and an excellent introduction to Stoicism.
Stoicism has been in my life for a long time. It helped me navigate through the ups and downs of life, especially the downs. It helped me survive the challenges and adversity in my life. It empowered me to find the courage to believe in myself.
I don’t think I realised, until some years ago, what an important impact Stoicism had in my life. I was lucky to study ancient Greek language and philosophy at school when I was young and later I read the History of Ancient Greek Philosophy by Giannis Kordatos (I don’t think it has been translated in English) where I discovered Zeno and Epictetus, the founders of Stoicism.
My purpose, when I started studying them, was to learn more about them and their philosophy, not to learn to live in a particular way. I don’t think one can automatically become a better person, just by studying philosophy. It needs to want to become a better person in order for the philosophy, and Stoicism in particular, to do its miracle.
Ten or so years ago, I discovered Marcus Aurelius' Meditations. The Meditations is a collection of notes that Marcus Aurelius has written to himself in order to remind him of key stoic teachings. It is one of those books you think every day, that shapes your thinking and change the way you feel and behave.
“Stop debating what a good person should be and just be one.” _Marcus Aurelius.
Nobody, and particularly me, wants to be told what to do. So how are you going to tell someone how to be a good person? Truth is, you can’t. But you can show them. And this is what I try to do.
What does it mean to be a good human being? According to Stoics it means to be virtuous. Now, this isn't a word that you hear often these days. In particular, it means "to have four cardinal virtues—to be wise, just, courageous and moderate," writes John Sellars. We have to admit, if we want to be honest with ourselves, that it's difficult be wise, just, courageous and moderate, all the time. We are humans; we have feelings; we are frail, and not all our actions are wise and courageous. But, it doesn’t matter. We don’t have to be wise and just all the time.
The measure of a man (or a woman) is the worth of the things he (she) cares about.” _ Marcus Aurelious. (text in the parentheses is mine).
Do not waste the rest of your life speculating about others or about things that went wrong or things you don't have control over them. Life is short. "Time is the most valuable thing we have," said Seneca. And although we have a limited amount of it, it is something many of us squander away. Ask yourself “is this thing worth my time? Will I be happy if I spent X amount of my precious time focusing on this thing?”
Choose wisely.