7 Stoic Lessons That (If Applied) Will Instantly Improve Your Life

When I was going throug a hard period of my life, I discovered stoic philosophy.

The lessons of Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius and Seneca helped me a lot.

I am sure they can change your life as well.

Let’s get into it.

1. Stop stressing about the things you can’t control.

Let’s say you face a problem. There are usually two options:

• You can control it? Great. Do it.
• It is beyond your power? Stop stressing about it. It’s a waste of energy.

“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marus Aurelius

2. Bad things will happen.

You will suffer. It is inevitable.

Strokes of fate will come and there is nothing you can do about it. But you can control how you deal with it.

3. Be grateful to be alive.

None of us are guaranteed 80 years.

The truth is, you could die tomorrow.

“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love…” — Marcus Aurelius

4. Every failure is an opportunity.

Every problem and every failure is an opportunity to grow.

Turn those failures into lessons you learn from and they will make you stronger.

5. Don’t take life too seriously.

Not even yourself.

Whatever you are doing, never forget to have fun along the way.

Life is much better that way.

“He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.” — Epictetus

6. Always keep learning.

Be humble enough to acknowledge that you don’t know everything and learn from others.

“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” — Epictetus

7. Discipline sets you free.

Only the disciplined ones are free in life. Everyone else is a slave to their impulses.

“He is free who lives as he likes; who is not subject to compulsion, to restraint, or to violence; whose pursuits are unhindered, his desires successful, his aversions unincurred.” - Epictetus

TL;DR:

• Focus on the things you can control.
• Bad things will happen. Accept it.
• Be grateful to be alive.
• Use failure as opportunity.
• Don’t take life too seriously.
• Never stop learning.
• Be disciplined to be free.

Thanks for reading!

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