The Stoic Path to Happiness: Finding Inner Peace and Fulfillment

Welcome back to Reflections from Within by Innominaire!

This Week’s Topic: Happiness (#5)

Last Week’s Question

“Can true happiness be achieved through the pursuit of external possessions or must it be found within oneself?"

For those of you who don't follow me on TikTok, you may have been unaware of the HUGE change I am making to my content. I have decided to remove music from ALL of my content - so I'm starting afreshhhhh.

The reason why I decided to take this approach is explained in the short video below:

I believe that true happiness cannot be found solely through the pursuit of external possessions. It is often said that true joy and contentment must be found within oneself, by cultivating a sense of self-awareness and appreciation.

For me, quitting music may be a way to achieve this kind of happiness. Music can be a powerful force that impacts my moods, feelings, and emotions. By taking a break from music and focusing on other activities, I can gain a better understanding of my own needs and desires. I feel like this can help me find true happiness and satisfaction within myself.

Right, onto this week's topic: happiness!

Are you not feeling happy? Let's talk about how we can be happy again.

Happiness is a feeling we all strive for in our lives. It's that warm, contented feeling in our hearts when we experience joy, love, and fulfilment.

But what does Stoicism have to say about happiness?

As per Stoicism, happiness is not something that we should go after directly. Rather, the thought that joy is a result of living in agreement with our values and standards.

Stoicism and happiness: An unconventional approach

The Stoics believed that real joy comes from living an upright life, being alert to our contemplations and activities, and concentrating on what is inside our control. They additionally accepted that we shouldn't seek joy or keep away from agony, as these are outer components that are outside of our control.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote:

'It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.'

Likewise, Epictetus said:

"It's not what occurs to you, but how you respond to it that matters."

The Stoics remind us that the manner in which we respond to our conditions is under our control and that we can discover bliss by living as per our own standards, paying little mind to outer conditions.

Stoicism 101: How to find happiness

As per Stoicism, the way to discover joy is to detach ourselves from outer conditions and to concentrate on living as indicated by our own qualities and standards.

This implies being consistent with ourselves, concentrating on what is inside our control, and being mindful of our contemplations and activities. The Stoics likewise accepted the intensity of self-reflection and introspection, as it assists us with recognizing zones where we can improve and live a more virtuous life.

In a nutshell

Happiness is a feeling we all strive for, however, it's not something we can straightforwardly pursue. As indicated by Stoicism, genuine joy comes from living an upright life, being mindful of our contemplations and activities, and concentrating on what is inside our control.

Recall, Seneca said:

'It's not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.'

Try not to squander your life looking for joy, focus on living an upstanding life, and joy will come normally.

Realistic steps to apply Stoic principles in real life

While the Stoic's reasoning may appear to be theoretical, there are a few down to earth advances you can take to apply these standards in your everyday life.

Here are a few hints to assist you with discovering bliss and living as indicated by your own standards:

1. Practice self-reflection and introspection: Take time to inspect your contemplations and activities and recognize territories where you can improve.
2. Focus on what is within your control: Don't squander your time and energy on things that are outside of your control.
3. Set realistic goals: Setting reasonable objectives will assist you with zeroing in on what's significant and give you a feeling of reason.
4. Practice mindfulness: Be present at the second and don't linger on the past or stress over what's to come.
5. Focus on your values: Remind yourself of your qualities and what's essential to you.
6. Take action: Rather than simply reasoning about what you need, take action towards your objectives.
7. Practice patience and persistence: Remember that progress takes time, be persistent with yourself and persevere in your endeavours.

By following these viable advances, you can apply the Stoic standards in your everyday life and discover joy. Recall, the way to discover bliss is to detach ourselves from outer conditions and concentrate on living as indicated by our own qualities and standards.

In conclusion, joy can be accomplished through Stoicism by centring around what is inside our control, rehearsing self-reflection, and living according to our standards. The Stoics accept that inward harmony and fulfilment originate from detaching from outer occasions and centring around our contemplations and activities. By grasping this reasoning, we can discover joy and satisfaction in life.

Question about Next Week’s Topic…

"Can an ungrateful person truly be happy, or does a lack of gratitude prevent one from experiencing true happiness?"

If you’re reading this then this is the perfect time to start making positive changes in our lives. With the right mindset, motivation, and stoicism, we can all become the best version of ourselves and make 2023 OUR year.

If you want to join me on this journey of self-discovery and growth, follow me @innominaire, on Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, Pinterest & YouTube.

I look forward to learning and growing together.