Whenever I want to read about how to cope with my emotions, I don’t want to read it between the word virtue as if it were a whitespace.
Yes, Stoicism is all about the virtue.
The Stoics have virtue’O’s for breakfast,
don’t cut themselves, but virtue themselves.
They go to the Virtue Parade. No, they are the Virtue Parade.
Stoicism is what happened when the Cynics realized pissing on the walls wasn’t changing the world, so they found virtue instead.
Life sucks, coping with it is virtuous. Fall down, but be virtuous while falling. Money is not everything (absolutely true), but virtue is (idk about that tho). They have a lot of wisdom to share —
if you’re willing to dive for it under the rain of virtue.
The Stoic Mindset
They’re all about productive unhappiness, but you have to look for it under layers of virtue. Everything’s crumbling, but if you don’t look like you’re handling it well, did you even really suffer? With virtue, of course.
Now, if you want to take them seriously, here’s what they offer:
They emphasize the development of self-control and fortitude to overcome destructive emotions, and they aim to become clear and unbiased (LOL) thinkers.
Funny thing about trying to be unbiased —
it’s the most biased thing you can do.
Oh, and how could I forget: virtuous.
It’s an “old man is tired, but content” approach to life.
There’s a certain humility to it, but it’s also resigned — living despite the world, not with it.
So a bit emo. No, really emo.
They’re emo old men trying to be less emo.
“I spent the entire day plowing the gravelly earth, but the water on my table is from a mountain spring.”
Stoic flex: sad but hydrated.
And yet,
Stoicism can also carry that “Uh, I am SO humble and virtuous” aura —
if you go too hard on it.
We’ll definitely add self-control and fortitude against destructive emotions to our mixtape.
Virtue? Or Coping?
Here’s what Marcus Aurelius said:
“You have power over your mind — not outside events.”
Powerful stuff. Stoics love to say this like it’s a mantra.
But here’s Marcus again, going full metaphysical:
“Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul… observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the structure of the web.”
—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations iv 40
Imagine coping so hard with running a collapsing empire you discover a blend of monotheism and Daoism.
Stoicism: now available in a Coping Infinite Universe flavor.
Ever read Seneca? He has a lot of quotes that are inspiring.
In fact, so many, he has this emo old man version of “I can fix him” energy.
His stratagem? Turn them, too, into emo old men. Fucking brilliant.
The Wisdom of Stoicism
However, the true diamond found within Stoicism?
Always get back up. No matter how hard you got hit, keep going. Find the will to keep going.
Got destroyed? Sweep up the pieces. Next.
I completely understand why Stoicism is getting a lot of track these days. Hit the gym, Marcus Aurelius, all that stuff.
Our world is becoming rather hard to ignore, so a stoic approach makes sense if you’re overwhelmed.
So nowadays, we have the grindset as a modern ghost of Stoicism —especially evident when you can’t even go to the gym without moving past some guy reading the journal entries of a coping Roman emperor.
But we’re not here to cope, are we? No, we’re not.
I do respect the sheer will to stand against the tide with mindfulness of one’s mortality.
Self-control is one thing, but maybe it’s time to stop simply enduring life’s chaos.
Maybe it’s time to dance with it.
And consider this:
Stoicism recognizes suffering but often frames emotions as enemies or obstacles.
Is self-mastery really the same as self-understanding, or is it a more refined suppression?
Maybe it’s also time to note that the entirety of Western Philosophy is built on trauma and coping.
Stoicism: Cope harder, king. Virtuously.
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