Do our lives flow well?

Are you fearful?

If we ask this question, the chances are that most people would probably respond saying that they are not. We think that fear is an unworthy emotion found only in cowardly people. So we don’t admit even to ourselves that we, like everyone else, have our fears and insecurities.

Fear and pain are universal. Fear is not just something we feel when we face imminent danger. It is an everyday experience that manifests itself in our everyday worries, anxieties, and even anger. No matter how happy we are, from time to time, our mind harps on future insecurities such as “What if I don’t have enough savings?,” “What if I lose my job?”, “What if I miss the flight?”, “What if ...?”, “What if....?”

Statistics show (source: NAMI) that

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
• 1 in 6 U.S. youths aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34

How do people deal with all this? Here is how:

One in seven adults report having used antidepressent mediation in the past 30 days. The use is higher among women and older adults.

The use of drugs suppresses the symptoms but the problems remain. This is not an excellent way to live. Surely, there must be better way.

How can we do better than becoming dependent on drugs for everyday well being? There are mental issues that may be the result of chemical imbalances, but most of our everyday fears and anxieties are the result of our distorted view of reality. This creates a life that does not flow well.

The Stoic solution

The Stoics argued that our fears and pains are the result of our incorrect perception of reality. We accept our (first) “impressions” as reality itself and act on them. But in many cases, our impressions are faulty. We don’t act on reality but on our unexamined interpretation of it. When we align our perception with reality, we live in accordance with nature. Living in accordance with nature creates a life that flows well. Fears, anxieties, and pain are not part of a life that flows well.

The Stoic diagnosis that most of our problems are generated by our incorrect perception of reality is supported by modern neuroscience and is one of the basic principles of influential modern psychotherapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Thereapy and REBT.

In this issue

In this issue, Santara Gonzales explains how she coped with her pain using Stoic principles. (Another of our contributing authors. Karen Duffy has been coping with chronic excruciating pain using Stoicic principles as well.)

You can also read in this issue what the ancient Stoics had to say about fear and pain. Epictetus explains how to be completely free of fear of any kind. Seneca provides six key ideas to eliminating fear and pain from our lives. Hope you find them useful.

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Dr. Chuck Chakrapani, Editor

 

 

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