New to Stoicism: Can It Really Change How We Feel?
Hi everyone,
I'm new to stoicism and a bit confused. We all have strong feelings, wild instincts, and many emotions that are not always logical. I believe we are not completely rational; we are also driven by our animal nature.
So, what does it mean when someone says, "I'm practicing stoicism"? Does reading stoic texts and reminding yourself of their ideas really change your thoughts and feelings? Or is it just a form of self-hypnosis?
Our minds were built for a time when people lived as hunters and gatherers. Our natural responses helped us back then, but they might not work well today. Changing these deep-seated responses is not easy.
I would love to know do you really feel that stoicism changes the way you think or react?
Stoicism doesn’t aim to stop you from feeling emotions, and it’s not about self-hypnosis. Instead, it helps you understand and process your emotions so they don’t control you. For example, losing a job might naturally make you feel sad, but if you examine it through a Stoic perspective, you’ll see that it doesn’t truly harm you. Your worth isn’t tied to a job, and the situation is beyond your control. Over time, practicing Stoicism helps you become less shaken by external events and move toward ataraxia—a state of inner peace and tranquility.
That said, this isn’t easy, and it takes practice. The goal of Stoicism isn’t to become numb or emotionless but to become wise. When you gain wisdom, many things that used to upset you will stop bothering you. Think about when you were a child—you might have thrown a tantrum over not getting ice cream for dinner. Now that you’re older, those things seem trivial. You didn’t lose your emotions; you just grew wiser. Stoicism works the same way—it helps you see what truly matters so you can focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.
I agree