In reading about the philosophy of Stoicism it can offer a person pause. Pause to consider one’s motivations in this modern world, how one might operate, and maybe ways to self-regulate one self. Being a stoic is not about the stiff upper lip definition many of us might think, but rather a philosophy about how to live, how to treat others, and the basis stems from one’s ethics, morals and integrity having priority in how one is motivated.

Stoic philosophy fits with the Serenity Prayer of accepting the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. During a pandemic like covid these are lessons we are facing over and over. Having a philosophy to practice acceptance, courage and wisdom seem important.

The Philosophy of Stoicism is ancient and seems focused on the individual practice of how one lives one’s life, rather than joining an organized group. The practice is in the doing. The core essence is in bringing ethics, morals and integrity into the day to day living of one’s life. One can have material bounty too, yet the ethics and integrity of how one is externally driven and acts would have priority to a Stoic, not gaining the externals like money or power themselves.

Many of us seem to have lost our ways, or gotten gobbled up by external dramas and devices. Could practicing Stoicism offer another way to connect with one own’s internal compass, that sense of rightness for oneself? When one is lined up with one’s own integrity and ethics, one often finds a joyful sense of groundedness, comfort, and even purpose. May we have the courage to change the things we can.