Stoicism For Millennials

Myth: Stoicism is about lying to yourself, putting on a brave face and hiding your emotions.

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

I've been learning about stoicism these past few years, and it's changing my life.

So, what is stoicism?

Before I learned about what stoicism was, I was under the assumption that it was basically the concept of being emotionless. This is only partially true. Webster defines stoicism as "the quality or behavior of a person who accepts what happens without complaining or showing emotion." So, the aim is not to be emotionless, but to not let your emotions rule over you. It's taking control of thoughts and emotions regarding challenges and obstacles in our daily lives.

A philosophy that was developed in the times of ancient Greece, stoicism is essentially the notion of being immune to misfortune. It is being able to find contentment and virtue in any situation.

Stoicism is not simply an idea. It's a way of life.

So, why do millennials need stoicism?

Millennials need stoicism because it is practical philosophy that can be used in day to day life. It can help redeem your feelings about complex situations, making you a more resilient person. Millennials are a stressed out group of people. According to the American Psychological Association, "Millennials (aged 18 to 35) and Gen Xers (36 to 49) are significantly more stressed than the "average" stress level, while older generations struggle less with stress."

I'm not suggesting that stoicism is the answer to these generational problems. However, I am proposing that stoicism has a lot of benefit to offer what is undoubtedly a stressed out society.

Stoicism is about how we think about and deal with our emotions and feelings about life. Despite whatever negative circumstances that are around us, ultimately it is our thoughts that dictate our state, not people or situations.

One of the fathers of stoicisms, Marcus Aurelius, puts it this way, "The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it."

Stoicism is meant to be empowering. The person who understands that their destiny is not fixed is a powerful force. The less influence your circumstances have over you, the freer you are to be present, useful, and creative. It's about mindfulness and acceptance, which we could all use a little more of.