written by
Matthew Rensberry
on 2024-11-04
Stoicism in Practice (Regarding the US election)
- Focusing on What You Can Control
- Stay grounded by Practicing this distinction
- We can vote, engage in healthy discussion, and educate ourselves on the issue, but we can’t control how others vote or the outcome itself
- Accept Uncertainty
- Elections often bring uncertainty about the future, and this can create anxiety.
- Stoics remind us: Our response to uncertainty is a choice.
- Embracing the unknown as an inevitable part of life can help us stay centered and calm, regardless of the outcome.
- Maintain an Inner Calm
- Keep your composure even in challenging situations.
- Rather than reacting with anger, frustration, or fear, we can aim to respond thoughtfully.
- A Stoic approach can be to engage with grace, civility, and calm, setting an example of equanimity.
- Remembering the Bigger Picture
- Election cycles often intensify short-term concerns.
- Stoicism encourages us to take the long view and consider our place in the world with perspective. By seeing things in context, we can keep a balanced view and avoid getting lost in momentary emotions.
- Compassion Toward Others
- Stoicism isn’t about suppressing emotions or being indifferent; it’s about cultivating understanding and patience.
- Recognizing that others are facing their own challenges and that everyone wants what they believe is best can help us remain empathetic and avoid unnecessary conflict.
- Build Resilience
- No matter the outcome, these experiences can strengthen personal resilience.
- Stoic principle of "amor fati" or:
- Loving our fate, even if things don’t turn out as we’d hoped
- Love your fate, let come what may