The main tenants of life coaching are not new. These themes have been written about and studied for thousands of years under different branches of philosophy and religion. Stoicism is a philosophy that dates back to 300 BC and originated in ancient Greece and Rome. The leaders of this practice ranged from a slave (Epictetus) to a Roman emperor (Marcus Aurelius). Their extensive writings from 2000 years ago are still very much relevant today.
Here are some of my favorite pearls from the Stoics.
Return your focus always to what you can control, specifically your words, your thoughts, and your actions. "Focus on where our power lies - our well-intentioned actions" (Jonas Salzgeber, The Little Book of Stoicism).
Focus on improving yourself. Accept and love people as they are. There's enough to correct in ourselves.
Maximize the present moment. Don't waste your precious time.
Accept reality as it is.
Take full responsibility for your own life.
Express your highest self each day.
Obstacles are opportunities. View each possible obstacle as working in your favor.
Without challenges and misfortunes, how would you ever know what you're capable of?
Pause between circumstances and your response. Let insults pass through you.
Don't wish for life to be easier, only for the strength to deal with life as it is.
Take the next appropriate action. When overwhelmed, ask yourself, "Right here, right now, what is the task at hand?" Jonas Salzgeber, The Little Book of Stoicism.
Every annoying or frustrating person is an opportunity to practice and improve your patience, teaching, kindness, and the way you choose to live your own life.
Don't allow yourself to be taken over by self-pity. This is a self-indulgent response which will only increase your suffering. "An injury to the leg is merely an impediment to the leg, not the mind."
Anxiety = wanting something not in your power
Continually recognize how life has been generous with you
If you give your best effort and take joy in your work, the outcome doesn't matter
Don't embark on anything just for the validation of others. You will always be disappointed. Things worth doing must come from your own interest or desire. "When you've done well and another has benefitted by it, why like a fool do you look for a third thing on top?" (i.e. the recognition or validation from others) - Marcus Aurelius.
Surround yourself with people who make you better. "The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best." -Epictetus
If you do what's right, you'll live a happy life.
Lead by example. "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." -Marcus Aurelius
Embrace moments of discomfort, even voluntary discomfort (cold, hunger, etc). "This training will quieten your appetite for material possessions, increase the appreciation for what you have, and prepare you to deal effectively when uncomfortable situations actually arise." - Jonas Salzgeber, The Little Book of Stoicism.
Stoic pearls can benefit people of any age, gender, and spiritual practice. It is a practice which can empower and strengthen each of us.
For more reading, I recommend the following books:
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living: Featuring new translations of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Ryan Holiday
The Little Book of Stoicism. Timeless Wisdom to Gain Resilience, Confidence, and Calmness. Jonas Salzgeber
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