The Relevance of Stoicism for Modern Life

In the fast-paced, screen-filled world we inhabit, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by our professional tasks and constant connectivity. Enter Stoicism—a philosophy that originated over 2000 years ago with its modern advocates being Marcus Aurelius who penned his life advice in 'Meditations.' For instance, instead of an "Pepe the frog" meme, how about some wisdom from Marcus Aurelius: “Don’t behave as if you are destined to live forever.” altough pepe is througly sick haha.
It's a stark reminder that our time is precious and we need to focus on what truly matters. The concept can be hilariously applied to our modern work-day when the 4th coffee mug of the morning needs its refill - 'What would Marcus do now?' Or: see through the eyes of your higher self.

Work-life balance, a modern catchphrase might sound like it's all new and shiny. However, Stoicism has long advocated for the importance of finding harmony between personal values and professional duties. Just like how 'hustle culture' tells us to “go hard or go home,” Marcus Aurelius had an alternative, encouraging us to cultivate inner peace amidst the chaos. The phrase 'You do not control the results. Only your actions can you control' from his book Meditations reminds us that our worth isn't measured by outcomes alone and a modern workday filled with meetings is often a chaotic cycle of tasks and results where 'productivity memes' often come to rescue - we have all seen those “do not disturb” images! But remember, even Stoic’s understood the benefits of unplugging. Your team will survive an email-free evening. Or an evening free time from that tight grind on hive lol.

Stress management might seem like a modern necessity, but it was a core theme for ancient Stoics as well. In today's world where deadlines chase us through endless Slack messages and Google Meetings, it’s easy to forget how to breathe—let alone “breathe deep the air of understanding.” Imagine turning to someone at work who is drowning in emails to share a Marcus Aurelius quote: 'Don't let your emotions run wild like a horse. Keep them under control'. A modern twist might be to see it as a ‘productivity meme’ that encourages mindfulness and emotional regulation.

As we navigate the complexities of careers, families, and endless online meetings, Stoicism offers us timeless principles that can help maintain our sanity. Marcus Aurelius’s wisdom reminds us to focus on what lies within our control—that’s our attitude and actions—all while enjoying the journey, and laughing a while along way! So, perhaps the next time you're inundated with work and feel like screaming into your keyboard – just breathe deep and remember: even in the chaos of modern work life, Stoic wisdom is ever-present.

Thank a lot for reading and the HIVE community for being the more democratic steem blockchain!

Catch ya in the next.