The practice of Stoicism has been helpful to countless people for the past 2,000 years. One of the simple but powerful ideas of the Stoics is that your ultimate well-being does not depend on forces outside your control.

According to Epictetus, for example, we can “make our desire and aversion safe against any setback or adversity” (Discourses, Book 1). In other words, we neither cling to the things we want that can be taken away from us, nor resist undesired outcomes if we can’t prevent them. This stance makes equanimity possible regardless of circumstances.

Furthermore, the Stoics give examples of being emotionally unmoved even by extreme circumstances. Epictetus describes the example of Agrippinus, who had been condemned to exile and told that his estate would be confiscated. His response essentially was, “OK, what’s for lunch?” (Disc., Book 1).

For his part, Seneca writes about Stilbo, who lost not only his home but his wife and children. When asked if he had lost anything, he stated with apparent indifference, “I have all my valuables with me” (Letter IX).

These teachings have given rise to a common understanding of Stoicism that equates it with a lack of emotion. According to this perspective, a “true” or “good” Stoic is free of unwanted or unpleasant emotions. This idea is bolstered by the dictionary definition of “stoic” as “not affected by or showing........

© Psychology Today