Be more Stoic? This guru thinks so
In an age where digital distractions and momentary pleasures dominate daily life, many are turning to ancient philosophy for guidance and grounding.
Far from being a mere nostalgic nod to the past, the resurgence of Stoicism has become popular with C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and politicians, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Barack Obama. However, unlike philosophers of the past, contemporary Stoics are building successful careers by popularising the teachings of Stoicism. How do they achieve this? They leverage something their predecessors didn’t have: the influence of social media.
If you’re unfamiliar with Stoicism, here’s what you need to know. Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means to overcome destructive emotions. The Stoics believe that virtue — wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice — is the only true good and that external events are beyond our control. Therefore, we should accept and embrace them, shifting our mindset to not react to things beyond our control.
What is Modern Stoicism?
The modern philosophy of Stoicism has its origins in the teachings of philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. It is seen as a solution to the stress and superficiality of modern life. Originally founded by Zeno of Citium around 300 BC, Stoicism is thought to help us become more resilient, happier, more virtuous, and wiser. As a result, it is believed that Stoicism can make us better people, parents, and professionals.
With an emphasis on resilience and self-control, stoicism has historically resonated with influential thinkers and leaders.
Stoic leadership at its best
“Modern tools have helped Stoicism spread. Whether we’re talking about social media, video, or audiobooks,” explains contemporary Stoic Ryan Holiday. “Think about how hard it was for Marcus Aurelius to get his hands on a book, right? There were these scrolls that could disintegrate if a strong wind blew at them. It’s wonderful that we can get audiobooks on our phones and listen to them as we walk.”
Ryan Holiday, a former marketing director of American Apparel, has become a New York Times best-selling author. In his books, such as The Obstacle is the Way, Stillness is Key, and Ego is the Enemy, he shares the basics of becoming a modern Stoic. With over three million followers, The Daily Stoic’s Instagram account rivals some of the world’s biggest influencers.
“To a lot of people, ancient philosophy is a bunch of names that they can’t pronounce and a bunch of concepts that they can’t wrap their heads around and there’s something very accessible, very practical, and yet also very inspiring about Stoic philosophy,” says Holiday.
His practical application of Stoicism, combined with his social media presence has introduced a new generation to philosophy. Many rely on his daily newsletter, sent to almost a million inboxes worldwide, for guidance on finding inner peace and resilience in a chaotic world. But with concepts like ‘memento mori’ – which literally translates to ‘remember you must die’ – you may wonder why Stoicism has resonated with so many of us. Even Holiday wasn’t convinced that modern society would embrace Stoicism the way it has.
“I remember in 2012 when I went to my publisher, and I was like, I want to do this book about this obscure school of ancient philosophy. No one was like, ‘That’s going to be huge,’ and I didn’t think it would be either,” he says.
“There’s a reason it’s survived for 20-plus centuries, and that’s because it holds up under stress and it works for people. Stoicism is responding to a void in the current culture which is where a lot of the old institutions have fallen short. We look around and we go, well, has anyone been through stuff like this before, and what have they figured out? I think that’s part of the reason we’re turning to stoicism.”
Criticism of Modern Stoicism
Despite its rapid rise in popularity, Stoic principles have their critics. Some argue that its emphasis on emotional regulation can lead to apathy and emotional detachment, while others oppose its stiff-upper-lip approach to life. Holiday disagrees, “that’s not what stoicism was in the ancient world and that’s not what it has to be now. We have four stories of Marcus Aurelius breaking down in tears, so the idea that he was this repressed, emotionless robot is nonsense,” he explains.
“He did say that being overcome by your physical urges is something shameful. But this idea of being emotionless and stoic is probably the biggest and most persistent myth of the philosophy.”
Another common misconception is that Stoicism resembles today’s hustle culture. The truth is that the stoics believed that any kind of compulsion or excess was something to be wary of. “One of the things that stoics criticise the most is people who are addicted to making money or becoming famous to amass more power,” explains Holiday. “They saw that that person was not in command of themselves, they might have led an enormous army, but they didn’t have power over themselves – and that’s what the stoics were striving to be, to have command of oneself.”
One sobering theme often discussed within Stoicism is death. This may sound incredibly morbid, but it’s the opposite. The Stoic way of thinking is that we only have a finite amount of time, yet we waste so much of it worrying about things that aren’t in our control. According to Holiday, “one of the most powerful ideas for the stoics is not that death is this thing that happens at the end that we’re moving towards, but in fact that death is always happening not just to people and places and things around us, but that we ourselves are dying. Every minute that passes is gone forever and may as well be dead.” When you think about it like that, you start to really think about what you’re prioritising.
Applying stoicism to modern life is proving to be helpful for many people, especially in uncertain times, despite the disparities between our lives and those of ancient Greek philosophers.
Modern Stoicism emphasises focusing on what we can control, promoting resilience and proactive virtue in the face of life’s challenges, rather than promoting passivity. “The stoics were living in uncertain times. They had sickness and storms and all the things that cause anxiety today, but they tried to remember at the core that there are some things that are in our control and some things that are not in our control, and they tried to focus most of their energy and emotions on the things that were in their control,” says Holiday.
Stoicism has provided practical guidance for the modern world, resonating with millions. Many are dedicated to Holiday’s daily insights, which he shares through his books, newsletters, and social media. As he prepares for his upcoming Australian tour, Stoic Life, in July and August of this year, his following grows stronger daily.
As we navigate the demands and stresses of our daily lives, such as work deadlines, financial pressures, and health concerns, Stoicism is becoming increasingly relevant in cultivating a more balanced, thoughtful, and intentional life.
“Of course, [Stoicism] has these high-minded ideas of courage and justice, but something about it is just so practical and real,” says Holiday. “You can’t pick it up and not get little strategies to apply day to day.”
