4 Ancient & Proven Stoic Tips To Instantly Improve Your Life
Become a better you with-out suffering.
Lately, I’ve been listening to Ryan Holiday’s podcast. Although I had purchased his podcast subscription a year earlier, I never listened to it — until today.
Hearing the podcast, I recalled many everyday life quotes I didn’t know belonged to Stoics. Having always misunderstood its origin, I never bothered to check its authenticity.
All of us are in the same boat! Hmm…
We’ve known a lot of sayings, quotes, and life lessons all of our lives, but we only remember a couple of them. Our brain memorizes 50 new words a day, and it’s tiring to make sure “Stoic lessons” stay on the list.
It’s not hard! Stoic lessons are relevant nearly three millennia later and are viewed as motivational guides by many.
Every 1 in 5th (person) you meet is either a Stoic follower or wishes to implement Stoic principles into their daily routine. The truth is: Stoic tips work.
It’s time to test 4 stoic theories in your life and become a better you in less time. Let’s get started.
1. Focus on what you can control
“You have power over your mind- not outside events. Realize this, and you’ll find strength.”- Marcus Aurelius.
We are all guilty of our habits. We desire to control the atmosphere.
Little do we know it’s impossible. Fact.
Thinking we can control our surroundings, people, thoughts, and future wastes our time. Many of us spend excessive hours of our day imagining things that will never really happen.
It appears as if all of us want to know the future one way or another.
How to apply?
To know what your future possesses, you don’t need to worry yourself to death. You can judge your future based on your present actions.
Something like this:
- are you willing to face fears?
- are you a slave of your past?
- are you ready to change?
Assuming the maximum answers are “yes,” you can easily predict your future. Know that if you’re ready to face your fears, let go of your past, and change, your days will be bright and full of opportunities.
It’s the surety! You may not be able to control your future direction, but you (may know) if you’re eligible enough to face it.
Confidence; it’s one of the greatest qualities of human beings. Our mind tells us everything through intuition, if only we know how to listen to it.
Start combing negative thoughts out of positive ones. Practice letting go of thoughts your mind cant’ control. And look for thoughts promising you a better life and future.
2. Reflect on how you fork your time
“Begin at once to live, and count each day as a separate life.”- Seneca
Each day is a blessing. You may wish you sleep with your will, but you only wake up if the universe wills.
The majority of us waste our time every day procrastinating and being lazy. If only you’d know how much each minute is valued, you’ll never waste a millisecond of it.
Our life is a result of our actions. If you spend most of your day unaware, you’ll never really discover your fullest potential.
Not that it’s hard, but there is a simple process to make most of your day unveiled by the Stoics.
How to apply?
When you wake up, grab a)sticky note and a b)pencil and head to the nearest table you see.
Sit down and write about all the goals you want to accomplish today. You may write it down messy, but it’s fine!
Perhaps, you will start remembering things you wanted to do last week but forgot. It’s okay to write everything down slowly & steadily.
Immediately, you’ll feel a burden off your shoulders. You’ll see a sticky note with words in front of you that will convey your plans.
See? Easy right.
Thoughts and plans are not slaves of our minds. You should set them “free” on paper and let them.
Yes! You can write down your plans when you wake up or choose to journal your ideas before you go to sleep. Either way, it’s possible.
Remember, you make it a habit every day and analyze your growth over time. You might need to invest in some sticky notes at first, but later, you’ll realize it was worth every penny.
3. Take action to overcome struggles
“That impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”- Marcus Aurelius.
Obstacles are nothing more than cue(s) to practice our growth. It leads us to discover our hidden purpose and oust our fears.
Stoics believed in mindful exercises known to turn obstacles upside down. This way, a bad thing turns out as a useful resource.
Suppose…
-Problem: You’re trying to get a job, and the farthest you’ve ever reached is only the interview. Nobody calls you after the interview session. It hurts, but you try to find out the lacking point.
-Solution: Does the quote make sense now? The problems are a source of good if you see them through the lens of Marcus. If something is lost or doesn’t make its way towards you, they’re directing you towards patience, understanding, and a chance to become less dependent on others.
The key here is to look at the bigger picture.
How to apply?
No one wants to fail!
But remember, the term “fail” is just a phrase. You add meaning by continuously thinking and making it a part of your personality.
Conflict is never easy. But if you can embrace the struggles standing before you, you’ll easily find a solution.
An ideal habit is to break down your problems into actionable steps. In light of the above scenario, the solution is as follows:
- go on a job-hunting spree again
- coffee chat with people
- start meditating
- wait for the results
Finally, you’ll see a bud rising from your problems. And that bud will bring you hope.
4. Be grateful for what you have
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not but rejoices for those which he has.”- Epictetus
7,900,000,000 (billion) people in this world; some are better than you, some are worst.
Mindset plays a main role here. If you believe you’ve got everything, you’ll always be happy. In most cases, nothing can ever offer assistance if you feel you lack something.
Perhaps things come our way when we need them.
Think like this: a toddler will consider it a toy when given a camcorder. Only an adult can make use of it.
Consider yourself a toddler, and displeased thoughts will never cross your mind. Never.
How to apply?
People don’t always get what they want. It’s a common misconception.
Many of us try to prove ourselves wrong but ultimately fail. This is where you should hold your horses and know a better time will come.
You can do this by appreciating what you already have. A best practice is “cleaning the wardrobe.” The thought of having fewer clothes will vanish when you’ll notice plenty of outfits.
After all, you will likely detect something new to wear.
Final thoughts:
The most valuable asset in the world is: “You.”
When gloom starts to take over you, making you believe you’re not enough, take the help of these 4 theories and apply them to your life immediately.
Practice these proven habits, and you’ll never stand in your way of success.
Lastly, hold on to the role of discipline, persistence, and becoming a better you (every day!)
Did you enjoy this article?
Want to be notified whenever I publish a new article? Click here.
There’s no additional cost to you, and I’ll receive a small commission — thanks for your support!
