What did stoicism teach?

Stoicism was a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. It teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions; the belief that a divine reason governs the universe; and that material possessions should be considered as external to the good life. Its key ideas include:

- Focus on what you can control: Stoicism teaches that we should focus on the things that we can control, such as our own thoughts, feelings, and actions, rather than on the things that we cannot control, such as other people's behaviour or external events.

- Be virtuous: Stoicism teaches that the highest good is to live in accordance with nature, which means living in accordance with our own rational nature. This means being virtuous, which includes being just, courageous, temperate, and wise.

- Accept adversity: Stoicism teaches that we should accept adversity with equanimity, and that we should not let it disturb our inner peace. This is because everything that happens to us is part of the natural order of things, and we should not let our emotions get the better of us.

- Live in the present: Stoicism teaches that we should live in the present moment, and that we should not dwell on the past or worry about the future. This is because the only thing that we can control is the present moment, and we should make the most of it.

Many contemporary psychotherapies borrow some ideas from Stoicism, focusing, in particular, on its principles of acceptance, impermanence, and present-focused living.