We’ve all heard about stoicism, but what does it really mean?

Is there a simple way to understand it?

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

I think there is. And it comes in the shape of a book written by Ryan Holiday called ‘the obstacle is the way’. As he writes in the opening chapter, the Roman Emporer, Marcus Aurelius, wrote, ‘the impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way’.

So what does that mean exactly?

We always have choices in life. Let’s suppose a problem is blocking our path. This could be a significant other, no money, a job situation, or no job. We all have a constant stream of problems to solve, both small and large. Will we be blocked by obstacles or can we find a way through them?

I think the philosophy of stoicism is having the resolve and determination to find a way through the biggest problems life throws our way. Ryan says the way through lies in three things: objective judgement, unselfish action and willing acceptance. Most people do nothing.

And I will admit to doing nothing sometimes.

There have been times when faced with, what appeared as an insurmountable problem to achieving my goal, I chose to do nothing. It’s an easy option, isn’t it? But as Ryan says, it’s not the right one, the right thing to do is to find a way around, or…