How to Gain Serenity with Stoicism

Last Updated: April 14, 2022

The current civilization, with its tumultuous and multiple demands, favors the rise of stress, and even anxiety. Your system of response based on that of your ancestors gives pride of place to the fight and flight syndrome reflex, which generates reactivity rather than adaptation. Therefore, a life full of serenity is not obvious in this context. Stoicism gives the keys to achieving this serenity; it proposes principles of life whose value has never been denied and, on the contrary, validated by all the research in the context of positive psychology.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Gaining Serenity with Stoicism

1
Adjust yourself in relation to nature and develop excellence of character, by the practice of four cardinal virtues. They act as a compass for action:
- Practical wisdom: knowing how to choose and act with reason
- Courage: living with confidence and cheerfulness
- Justice: fairness, loyalty and respect
- Temperance: moderating your actions and judgments to the right measure.
- These elementary principles may seem abstract but the Stoics have developed all kinds of training to reach the Good Life which can be defined as follows:
  - To accept the things you cannot change,
  - Courage to change the things you can, and
  - Wisdom to know the difference.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Gaining Serenity with the 9 Stoic Practices

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Do a morning examination. Every morning, have a privileged moment. First of all to rejoice in being alive - surrounded by loved ones, without material concerns, if this is the case - then calmly prepare for the day. Seneca says that you should consider every day as your last day and live it fully.
2
Discern what is within your control. Focus on actions that are within your control, without wasting energy on judgements and complaints about situations outside your control. Make a constant effort to discern the elements on which your attention must be focused.
3
View from above. Avoid being overwhelmed by current worries, by rising above immediate concerns. Look back and take a global view: “No, you are not the centre of the world; yes, your problems of the moment are insignificant”, especially put in perspective with the major problems of the world.
4
Practice premeditatio malorum. Consider what is the worst that could happen in any situation and prepare for it mentally. If it happens, you will be ready for it, and if it is more favorable you will solve it without difficulty while rejoicing.
5
Practice memento mori. Remember that you are mortal: there's no need to consider this principle in a morbid or defeatist way, but take it as an incentive of taking control of your existence. Work in a more concentrated way, without getting caught up in overactivity, to be more efficient in the workplace and more present for your family, so you gain fulfillment.
6
Reserve clause. Remove attachment to a specific outcome. Keep in mind the maxim: “Do what you must, come what may.” How many times are you still concerned, when the die is cast?
7
Value role models. Choose, as a model, one or more great characters whose values and behavior you admire, in order to follow their example during the important events of your life. How would this character have comprehended the situation? Thus, you feel comfortable in your decisions, which avoids overwhelming concerns.
8
Practice amor fati. Remember that resistance creates suffering, and acceptance provides inner calm. For life to flow in peace, as Epictetus says: demand not that things happen as you wish but wish them as they do, and you will go on well. Train yourselves to love life with all its components and to accept all its aspects.
9
Do an evening examination. In the evening, keep a moment to write or to reflect on your actions, rejoice in what was good, and to motivate yourself to improve what could be. Your progress towards excellence is continuously checked and encouraged.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Achieving the Good and Serene Life

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Keep these principles in mind every day. Make progress every day towards wisdom and build harmonious relationships with yourself and others.
- True happiness and serenity are reached in the search for fulfillment, by performing the best possible role that has been assigned to you, to realize your nature perfectly.