Is stoicism relevant to modern life? What life lessons could you extract from Stoic philosophy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stoicism is a timeless philosophy. The ancient Stoicism teachings contain some of the greatest wisdom in the history of the world, and the Stoic lessons are no less relevant today than they were at the dawn of the stoic school of thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are seven Stoic lessons for modern living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stoicism began in ancient times, but its lessons are as relevant today as they were at the times of Zino of Citium, the founder of the Stoic school of thought. Here are seven Stoic lessons to help you thrive in the world out of your control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
People often advise you to be realistic and avoid rocking the boat. However, this limited thinking<\/a> makes it harder to overcome obstacles<\/a>. It also keeps you from trying to reach ambitious goals<\/a>. Your perceptions often determine what you accomplish\u2014if an obstacle looms bigger in your mind than the goal, it will stop you. <\/strong>Instead of listening to naysayers, and therefore accomplishing little or nothing, think differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steve Jobs operated with a mindset that people around him referred to as his \u201creality distortion field,\u201d where he believed that nearly anything he wanted was possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He had little tolerance for lack of confidence or arguments that something couldn\u2019t be done. For example, when he wanted to develop a new mouse that could move smoothly in any direction (a new concept at the time), he fired a designer who told him it couldn\u2019t be done. The designer\u2019s replacement immediately set about proving Jobs\u2019s view of reality by creating the mouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In another instance, his engineers insisted they couldn\u2019t have the first Macintosh computer<\/a> ready for shipment by the deadline, which was one week away; they wanted an additional week. However, Jobs refused to accept a delay, the engineers performed beyond what they thought possible, and the Mac shipped on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By pushing past what others saw as insurmountable obstacles, Jobs created products no one had previously imagined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Preconceptions about a situation or problem often set you up for failure. You assume things should be a certain way and when they\u2019re not, you feel you\u2019re starting from behind and give up. But in every situation or obstacle, there\u2019s a hidden opportunity that you can turn to your own benefit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When faced with an obstacle, do two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Manage your emotions<\/a>, so you can see the situation neutrally.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) Then mentally turn the obstacle upside down\u2014reorient your thinking<\/strong> to view it as an opportunity or gift rather than a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, when you have a horrible boss, all you see is daily misery. But think of it as presenting opportunities like these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider being thankful for these irritants instead of being upset:<\/p>\n\n\n\n General Dwight D. Eisenhower<\/a> broke German momentum in World War II by using an obstacle to his advantage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The German Blitzkrieg strategy of making sudden attacks with overwhelming force was initially disastrous for the Allies. But Eisenhower turned the Germans\u2019 strategy upside down: He allowed them to break through Allied frontlines\u2014then the Allies would surround the enemy force, attacking from all sides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve all heard stories of valuable lessons learned from failure. We know that failure is part of the path to success<\/a>. Yet most of us will do anything we can to avoid failure\u2014it\u2019s embarrassing and painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the temporary failure that comes as a consequence of taking action is less painful than permanent failure that comes from never trying and never learning. Learning from failure<\/a> does come at a cost, whether in discomfort or lost time of having to start over. But be glad to pay it\u2014there\u2019s no better teacher than failure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Startups in Silicon Valley treat failure as an asset. Instead of spending months or years trying to develop the perfect product, they often launch an imperfect one so they can learn from the customer response<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Referred to as the MVP or minimum viable product, the first iteration is a core product with minimal features. Based on the customer response, the developers drop features that don\u2019t work or aren\u2019t wanted, and focus on improving the features customers do want. This approach allows them to fail without losing a lot of money rather than invest huge sums in something that doesn\u2019t sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of yourself and your goal as a startup. Expect to fail and treat it as an asset. Each time you fail, learn from it and improve on your effort a little more. Develop a high tolerance for failure because successful action and failure go together.<\/strong> If you stop acting because you don\u2019t want to fail, you won\u2019t fail\u2014but you won\u2019t succeed either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to tackle a difficult problem or obstacle is to break it down and focus on doing the first step. Do it well, then move on to the next step and the next. Don\u2019t think about the end goal, just what you have to do now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you follow the process, problems and the action required to overcome them are less daunting\u2014it\u2019s just a matter of following the steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The step-by-step process counters several unhelpful responses to challenges or pressure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A key benefit of breaking things down into steps and following them is that it\u2019s relaxing. You know you\u2019ll get the job done and can be comfortable taking whatever time it takes. The process replaces fear and worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nick Saban, coach of the University of Alabama football team, teaches his staff and players to focus on the present and take things one step at a time<\/a>. Everyone involved refers to this as \u201cthe process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Players don\u2019t focus on the next play, next game, or the SEC championship; they think only about completing the task in front of them, whether it\u2019s a film session, drill, play, or drive. During games, they learn not to be distracted by the stakes, the score, or the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal is to excel at each step, which is the way to achieve overall success, whether winning a game or having a winning season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re pursuing an ambitious goal, you sometimes have to do \u201cgrunt work\u201d or work that isn\u2019t appealing to you along the way. It\u2019s tempting to do this work haphazardly; you tell yourself the work doesn\u2019t matter\u2014it\u2019s not who you are<\/a>, you\u2019re destined for bigger things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, whatever you\u2019re doing, it\u2019s your duty to do it well. The saying, \u201cHow you do anything, is how you do everything,\u201d applies. The way you approach small things is the way you\u2019ll approach big things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything you do is an opportunity to learn and put your best foot forward.<\/strong> Whether you get recognition or are paid well is beside the point; what matters is that you do as much as you\u2019re capable of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of the job, always do three things: work hard, be honest, and help others. Remember that everything you do reflects on you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your answer to the question, \u201cWhat\u2019s the meaning of Life<\/a>?\u201d lies in your actions. In every step of every job, strive for right action; it\u2019s a way to turn obstacles into opportunities. You always have this option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long before he entered politics and became president, Andrew Johnson was a tailor. Later, as president, he still expressed pride in the quality work<\/a> he had done making clothes. He regularly noted that the clothing he made never ripped or came apart. When a campaign heckler ridiculed his working-class roots, Johnson replied that he was proud of having done good work that met his customers\u2019 expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, President James Garfield once had a humble job, which he did so well it became a jumping off point for a career. While attending college, he paid his tuition by working as a janitor. He did the work conscientiously and with a smile. Within a year, he became a professor, and by age 26, a dean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both presidents knew that doing even small things well is satisfying and empowering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People often describe pragmatism as being realistic, but it\u2019s more a matter of being flexible\u2014of going with what you have rather than waiting or striving for perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At some point, you usually have to compromise to get things done. While he cared about details, Steve Jobs knew when to be pragmatic. The first iPhone didn\u2019t have all the features he wanted, but there came a point when introducing a revolutionary device was more important than perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aim for momentum, not perfection. Act when you have all you need, but not necessarily all you want<\/strong>\u2014and you\u2019ll create enough force to break up obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two fruit companies once battled for control of a tract of land of disputed ownership between Guatemala and Honduras. The company that took the pragmatic approach won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n United Fruit Company deployed a team of lawyers to file suits; the much smaller company owned by Samuel Zemurray simply met with each of the two purported owners and bought the land from each of them. Though Zemurray paid twice, his pragmatism overcame the obstacle\u2014he got the land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a boy in the Jim Crow<\/a> South, author Richard Wright confronted a roadblock, he came up with a practical means of getting what he wanted. He wanted to learn, but couldn\u2019t check out library books because he was poor and black. So he forged notes requesting the books he wanted\u2014he made the notes sound as though they were from a white person, who had sent him to pick up the books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In challenging times, it\u2019s easy to hunker down and focus on yourself, obsessing over what you did wrong and how to get out of your situation. But what you really need to do is adopt a cause larger than yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask yourself how you can at least help others, if you can\u2019t help yourself. <\/strong>If you just focus on yourself and why bad things keep happening to you, you\u2019ll stay stuck. But when you realize your ability to do some good, you\u2019ll feel empowered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone has problems and is subject to twists of fate. Others have had the same problem you\u2019re having. Appreciate the fact that you\u2019re part of a larger whole; contribute by helping others. In persevering for others\u2019 sake, you\u2019ll help yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Navy fighter pilot James Stockdale was shot down in North Vietnam in 1965, and captured by the North Vietnamese. He persevered through seven years as a prisoner of war by making it his mission to provide leadership and help the other POWs (including John McCain) get through the ordeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stockdale gave the men a watchword\u2014U.S., meaning \u201cUnity over self\u201d\u2014to remind them that they were all in it together. He made it clear that no one would be blamed for giving up information under torture\u2014everyone was human\u2014and he set up a support network for those who felt ashamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stockdale and McCain were able to withstand great torture. They weren\u2019t superhuman\u2014they drew strength from having a larger cause, their men\u2019s well-being, which enabled them to persevere and help others persevere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When something happens or we face a challenge, instead of seeing it as it is, we obsess over what it means. This tendency is unique to the human species. As Emerson noted, we \u201cwaste time on false constructs\u201d\u2014spending our days conjuring up explanations for why things are the way they are. This makes obstacles seem bigger and more difficult to deal with. Instead of analyzing what problems mean, we should simply address them in the present. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some tips for focusing on the present:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Half of Fortune 500 companies started in an economic crisis or bear market<\/a>. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaders of these and other major businesses knew what the economic situation was, but didn\u2019t try to predict whether it would get better or worse. Instead, they focused on developing and selling their product or idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of when they\u2019re launched, all businesses face operating constraints. Entrepreneurs work to achieve whatever is possible within those constraints. They don\u2019t worry about how things should be or will be\u2014they deal with what is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stoicism has enabled people from every walk of life to succeed in times of war, upheaval, and trouble. Those who turn obstacles upside down find that the obstacles no longer impede\u2014they empower. Further, those who meet the challenge this way emerge as stronger and better people. As you implement the Stoic lessons, you\u2019ll find out for yourself that what stands in your way can become your way forward. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Is stoicism relevant to modern life? What life lessons could you extract from Stoic philosophy? Stoicism is a timeless philosophy. The ancient Stoicism teachings contain some of the greatest wisdom in the history of the world, and the Stoic lessons are no less relevant today than they were at the dawn of the stoic school of thought. Here are seven Stoic lessons for modern living.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":28881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,43],"tags":[259],"class_list":["post-31906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-philosophy","category-self-improvement","tag-the-obstacle-is-the-way","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nThinking Outside the Box: Steve Jobs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Lesson 2: Find the Opportunity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Turning Obstacles Upside Down: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Lesson 3: Build on Failure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Think Like a Startup<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Lesson 3: Take Things One Step at a Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A Winning Formula for Basketball<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Lesson 4: Do Your Job Well, Whatever It Is<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presidents Who Sweated the Details<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Lesson 5: Do What Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pragmatism Wins in Business and Life<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Lesson 6: Have a Larger Purpose<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
POW With a Mission: James Stockdale<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Lesson 7: Focus on the Present<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Succeeding in the Present<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n