William B. Irvine’s book ‘A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy’ is, in my opinion, a great book for providing readers with a modern interpretation of Stoicism and its practical applications. As we explore some of life’s deepest questions on this blog, A Guide to the Good Life offers us insight on how to live a meaningful life, deal with adversity and prompts us to reflect on what’s important to us.
Stoicism is a philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and Rome. It was founded by a philosopher named Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BCE. Stoicism teaches that individuals can find happiness and fulfilment by focusing on the things they can control and accepting what they cannot control. This philosophy emphasises the importance of living in accordance with nature and developing inner peace and self-control.
Key Idea 1 – The Stoics believed that the pursuit of two goals was essential to living a good life: virtue and tranquility
Virtue, to the Stoics, did not mean living a saintly existence, but rather living in accordance with our nature as reasoning and social beings. This involves recognising our responsibilities to those around us and acting in a way that benefits not only ourselves but also others. Being virtuous could mean showing respect to our parents or exhibiting empathy towards friends and companions.
Tranquility, on the other hand, is achieved by eliminating negative emotions, allowing positive emotions to flourish. It is closely tied to virtue, as both require the use of reason and the ability to control one’s emotions. To live a tranquil and good life, one must be able to manage their emotions and prevent them from dominating their intellect. For instance, when stuck in a traffic jam, a Stoic would not allow anger to take hold. Instead, they would evaluate the situation, identify triggers, and use their mental faculties to stay calm.
One important way to do this is to focus on the present moment. This helps us stay mindful of our actions and experiences, shifting our attention away from worrying about the past or planning for the future. Practising regular reflection can also help us look at ourselves objectively, increasing our self-awareness and enabling us to make more positive choices which, ultimately, will take us closer to achieving the good life.
Key Idea 2 – To combat our insatiable consumerism, it is essential to cultivate appreciation for what we already possess
Despite considering ourselves reasonable individuals, we all suffer from a common flaw: an insatiable desire for more, despite knowing that acquiring what we want won’t ultimately bring lasting happiness. This phenomenon is known as hedonic adaptation, which follows a predictable cycle: we crave a new item, purchase it, and enjoy it briefly before becoming bored and seeking something new.
The Stoics recommend breaking this cycle by stopping to take what we have for granted and instead learning to appreciate it. Rather than constantly craving more, we should train ourselves to want what we already possess.
To aid in this process, the Stoics developed various methods to help us appreciate the people and things around us. One of these techniques is called negative visualisation. By imagining the loss of the things and people we take for granted, such as close friends or family, we can reflect on how fortunate we are to have them in our lives and cultivate a deeper appreciation for them.
Key Idea 3 – One way to develop a deeper appreciation for the people and things in your life is through voluntary discomfort
Seneca, a famous Roman Stoic, referred to this practice as “to practice poverty,” but it doesn’t require extreme measures. The idea is to deliberately abstain from certain comforts to strengthen your willpower and increase your enjoyment of those comforts when you return to them.
Voluntary discomfort can start with small changes, like biking instead of driving or taking cold showers. By experiencing mild discomfort, you can better handle truly painful situations if they arise, and you’ll find that you no longer take your comforts for granted.
Key Idea 4 – Recognise and accept what is outside of your control
One of the key concepts in Stoicism is the idea of the “dichotomy of control”. This concept teaches individuals to focus their attention on the things they can control, such as their own thoughts and actions, and to accept what they cannot control, such as external events and other people’s opinions. By focusing on what they can control, individuals can reduce their anxiety and stress levels, and achieve greater inner peace and tranquility.
For example, we can’t control the weather, so instead of getting agitated when it rains all day, we should embrace it. It’s also possible to control ourselves, our objectives, and the values we live by. We can choose to become a virtuous, joyful, trustworthy, and forgiving person, regardless of our circumstances.
However, there are some things over which we have partial control, such as winning a tennis match. Since winning or losing is not entirely in our hands, we shouldn’t set external goals beyond our power. Instead, we should internalise our goals by redefining them as something within our control, like playing to the best of our ability. By doing so, we can avoid potential disappointment and focus on ourselves and our capabilities, which can increase our chances of success.
Abstaining from certain pleasures occasionally can also help you control your urges and promote a stronger sense of willpower. Instead of always indulging in temporary thrills like drugs, consider saying no to that glass of wine or delicious cookie once in a while. By doing so, you’ll appreciate those treats even more when you do decide to indulge.
Key Idea 5 – It is futile to become angry or seek the approval of others
We’ve all experienced how a thoughtless remark by someone can spoil our day. The Stoics would say that this is an example of how we allow others to disturb our peace of mind. However, dealing with annoying or unpleasant people can be challenging, so what can we do?
One of the most significant items on the list of things we cannot change is “other people”, or more specifically, “other people’s flaws”. Since we sometimes have to interact with others, it’s better to increase our tolerance than to become irritated, which only worsens the situation.
To be more tolerant of others, we should remember that we all have flaws. We all experience envy, frustration, ignorance, and so on, and none of us want to have these weaknesses, but it can be easy to fall into negative behaviours. Indeed, people may be predisposed to certain behaviours. The best we can do is strive for understanding and tolerance.
Another thing we cannot control is what others think of us. No matter how hard we try, some people will find fault with us and form negative opinions. Knowing this, it’s best to stop seeking others’ approval and adopt a state of indifference toward their opinions.
Striving for the admiration of others means giving them power over us, as we are forced to do things that will keep us in their good graces. Similarly, we forfeit the things that may cause them to dislike us, even if these things are essential to us.
Seeking the admiration of others also means having to conform to their ideas of success. For example, if you live in the Western hemisphere, where success is usually equated with wealth, you may have to spend your life trying to amass a fortune to gain people’s admiration, regardless of whether money will ultimately make you happy.
Key Idea 6 – We should not become obsessed with amassing wealth
The pursuit of wealth is often seen as an admirable and worthwhile endeavour, with the promise of bringing us happiness.
However, the Stoics believe that our mental state is a more significant factor in our well-being than money.
For example, the Stoic philosopher Musonius argued that money cannot alleviate our sorrows and that the pursuit of wealth can lead to misery. He believed that living in luxury is an unnatural desire that can never be fully satisfied and can ultimately make us unhappy.
This idea is similar to hedonic adaptation, which suggests that we always crave more and more, and become slaves to our desires. In contrast, a Stoic who practices enjoying simple things may take as much pleasure in an apple as a wealthy person takes in an expensive steak.
Therefore, we should not let wealth corrupt us, and instead focus on cultivating a content and grateful mindset that appreciates the simple things in life.
Key Idea 7 – The Stoics have valuable insights to offer on coping with grief and the challenges of ageing
Death is a difficult topic for most of us to confront, but the Stoics suggest that preparing for it through negative visualisation can help us avoid being consumed by grief when someone we love passes away. This approach also encourages us to appreciate and treat our loved ones better while they are still with us.
Reason can also be employed to ease our grief by reminding us to be grateful for the time we had with the person who passed away, rather than being tormented by their absence.
As we age and the prospect of death becomes more imminent, it’s common to feel negative or depressed. However, the Stoics encourage us to cherish every moment of our lives, regardless of our age. Rather than taking life for granted, we should embrace each day and find joy in the simple things.
It can help, according to the Stoics, to take a “view from above.” This concept encourages individuals to step back from their own lives and look at things from a larger perspective. By doing so, individuals can gain a better understanding of their own place in the world and develop a sense of humility and gratitude.
Key Idea 8 – Becoming a Stoic can be a transformative experience that provides direction and meaning to our lives
Stoicism can help us focus on what is truly important and simplify our lives by showing us what to pursue, like tranquility, and what not to, like external pleasure. Making decisions also becomes easier, as we need only consider whether they help or hinder our tranquility and align with our goals.
However, it’s important not to rush into a full-blown conversion overnight. Developing a Stoic temperament requires time and effort, and it’s best to gradually apply each technique one at a time. A good starting point is practising negative visualisation to get accustomed to the idea of being without the things and people we value.
After that, we can try accepting the things in our lives that are beyond our control, acknowledging the things we have some control over, and setting internal goals for ourselves. Lastly, we should avoid projecting negativity onto others and remember that everyone has their faults.
By practising these steps, we can gradually develop a mindset that is conducive to experiencing the pure joy of being. So take it slow and steady, and you may find that Stoicism can change your life for the better.
Concluding thoughts…
The book ‘A Guide to the Good Life’ is an excellent resource for anyone interested in exploring Stoicism and its practical applications. It offers a clear and accessible introduction to the philosophy, and it provides readers with concrete strategies for achieving greater happiness and fulfilment in their own lives.
The main message of this book is that Stoic philosophy teaches us to prioritise tranquility and virtue, learn to control negative emotions, and embrace moderation. By adopting a Stoic lifestyle, we can find happiness in our relationships and surroundings, as well as within ourselves.
As actionable advice, it’s important to prioritise tranquility over negative emotions. Take some time every day to reflect on your experiences and emotions. Ask yourself questions such as:
Did I allow negative thoughts to consume me today?
Where did they originate from?
Was there any reason for having those thoughts?
How could a more peaceful approach have affected the situation?
By doing this, you can develop a greater awareness of your emotions and learn to manage them more effectively, ultimately leading to a more content and fulfilling life.
