Stoicism - A Philosophy of Calmness

Death is unbeatable. But yet most of humanity spend their everyday, being afraid of death. This is a fear that does no good but harm in a sense. Same goes for sickness. If a person is sick, being afraid and crying over it does no good. Going to doctor, checking up, and having treatment is what needed, not crying over it. Yet most of us freak out when we get sick.This worrying about what is not in our control is what Stoicism oppose. It asks us to ask the most important question, are we in control of what's happening. If not what good in worrying.

After death of Socrates breaking up of Greek empire many Hellenistic philosophy was born from ashes of Socratarian philosophy. Although none of them had as depth as Socrates philosophy but some had real life value. Stoicism is one of them. Zeno of Cyprus was the first Philosopher of Stoicism. Being a successful businessmen Zeno was a wealthy man who lost everything when his ship of goods were lost in the ocean. With sudden poverty and not knowing what to do Zeno turned himself to Library where he found Socratarian Philosophy and many Socraterian philosopher. Spending great deal of time there he started teaching people his own version of way of living which later got recognized as Stoicism and people who live life on that belief were known as Stoic.

A stoic men is not afraid of death, poverty, sickness, danger or betrayal. Only thing stoic man is concern about is not living up to his virtue. A stoic man sees every action in the world in two ways, thing he can control and thing he can't. And if he can't control something , there is absolutely no point of being worried or fighting against it. He will rather take action against what he has control over. He don't control where he will get birth neither he has control over where his life will take him. But he controls actions he takes. So he is worried about action rather than result.

Marcus Aurelius - King of Rome empire and Epictetus - salve in Rome, had one thing in common. They were both stoic man. So neither kind nor slave wept one shade of tear for where they were born, for it was not in their had. For most time Marcus Aurelius wasn't happy being king. He wanted a simple life and to read. But instead he had to be in counseling, in war, in meeting; seeing death, people lying and betraying. Yet he never quit his position as king for he believed what ever controls the universe Lord, nature or anything, must put him as a king for a reason. And until Lord is not giving him sweet release from his duty , he must not under perform. For which will not be a virtues thing to do. So being king of whole known world Marcus Aurelius lived a humble life bringing happiness and justice to his empire. And never being worried about betrayal or war, for these was not in his control.

Nelson Mandela, sitting in the jail cell for 27 years, read Meditation by Marcus Aurelius. And after release he never showed any aggressive behavior to people who had put him trough that great deal of suffering. Being a Stoic man he knew peoples betrayal is not in his hand. So he never tried to control that. Instead he controlled his action and belief.

When rain breaks upon us we get pissed. But we never become so angry that we shout at rain. Because we accept it as part of life, no matter how trouble-sum it is. And if we can accept all of our problem just like that we can finally live a happy life. So from now ask what is in your control. If something is not in your control, think what's the worst this can be and be prepared for it. Because only thing you control is your action, not how world works. So stop worrying about what the world might bring upon you, and start focusing on what you can do.