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Ancient Wisdom for the Stresses of Modern Life
I put Stoicism to the test by practicing this philosophy for a whole year. Here’s what I learned.
Life in the Stress Lane
Stress and anxiety hamper the quality of life and recent surveys suggest levels are at an all-time high. Pressures at home and at work have been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, and a widening political divide.
There are significant challenges we face as individuals and societies, but we cannot rise to them if we are paralyzed by fear and hopelessness. We cannot brainstorm solutions if our mind is clouded with negative emotions. Great things are achieved when we are level-headed, thoughtful, and guided by reason and evidence rather than pride and ignorance.
“When the sea is stormy, you can see nothing clearly.” — Seneca
I’ve been a ball of stress most of my life, which my doctors tell me is a major factor in some of my health problems, which include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), migraines, and insomnia. Consequently, I became invested in findings ways to cope with stress and anxiety. I stumbled upon Stoicism while researching the biological underpinnings of happiness a few years ago for my book, Pleased to Meet Me…