Stoicism And Students

Written By Colēgia

Originating from ancient Greece, the concept of stoicism has a wide variety of helpful applications and many of which can benefit students. From making it through tough times to finding a deeper appreciation for the important things, this concept goes far beyond the classroom. Today we want to cover this school of thought and see where we can apply it in our modern world.

Defining Stoicism

Founded in Athens, stoicism is a school of thought that revolves around the idea of maximizing positivity while reducing negativity and the virtues associated with that. In simple terms, stoicism helps us practice non-reactivity and enduring difficult situations with unique mindset shifts. Philosophy in general challenges us to review our expectations about many things and this holds true in stoicism as well. Stoicism is good as it allows us to build a foundation to lean back on when things become overwhelming or unpredictable. It recognizes that we are going to experience challenges along the way and rather than denying that they exist, we need to see them and most importantly, react to them differently. While stress is something we all face, stoicism dares to address it in a manner that will leave us feeling empowered.

“Founded in Athens, stoicism is a school of thought that revolves around the idea of maximizing positivity while reducing negativity and the virtues associated with that.”

Where to Apply it

One area that can be applied to stoicism is the idea of defensive pessimism. While pessimism itself has a negative connotation, this specifically focuses on events we may have struggled with and how to prevent them through action. This is important as it allows us to review what we've experienced and turn it into a positive situation in an effort to reach a different outcome. This also ties into one of the methods for stoicism which involves envisioning the worst-case scenario and learning to build a tolerance to it. Chances are that even with the worst possible outcome, you would still make it through. This helps us look past failure as something that can make or break us and view it more as something to acknowledge and prepare for. This isn't to say that we should rely on these thought processes alone. Rather they are a means of tackling difficult situations in a manner that can be constructive.

“This helps us look past failure as something that can make or break us and view it more as something to acknowledge and prepare for.”

How it Helps

Integrating stoic acts of thinking can help in many different ways. In a school and work setting it can provide the right amount of motivation to make it through difficult tasks. Motivation is oftentimes fleeting and it can be hard to find the strength to give yourself a pep talk. This, however, is crucial as the stoics recognize the importance of willpower when it comes to everyday tasks and understands that it is a driving force of action. Affirmations are one way to incorporate this type of motivation into your life as they involve us speaking positively about what we may need to do. Similar to the rigors of a school curriculum, stoicism sees the value in multiple areas and offers us a holistic and balanced viewpoint when it comes to development.

Colēgia

Colēgia

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