Stoicism: How This Ancient Philosophy Can Empower You to Improve Your Health and Your Life

Lisa Egan

This article originally posted on All About Habits

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive– to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

There is an ancient philosophy that can help you find the strength and stamina to gracefully handle the challenges of everyday life, improve your health, and experience true happiness.

This philosophy is called Stoicism. It is an eudaimonic philosophy. Eudaimonia is a term that means a life worth living, often translated as “happiness” in the broad sense, or more appropriately, flourishing.

I’ve only recently started learning about Stoicism. I wish I’d known about it years ago. In the short period of time I’ve been studying it and applying its teachings, I’ve made significant positive changes in my life…changes in the way I think, in the way I handle setbacks and obstacles, and in the way I manage stress and anxiety.

My study of the philosophy began when I came across this quote somewhere on the Internet:

The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way. – Marcus Aurelius

How profound.

Recognizing the obstacles before you, assessing them, and preparing to overcome them…well, there’s power in that.

Every challenge we overcome makes meeting the next one with grace and determination easier because our self-confidence is strengthened.

Here is the full quote from Marcus Aurelius:

Our actions may be impeded, but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.

Epictetus wrote,

In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices.

Stoicism teaches us to embrace problems, accept them, prepare to challenge them, and take action to overcome them.

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