Stoicism is highly therapeutic; the therapeutic component of Stoicism is well recognized. Modern therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and REBT are influenced by Stoic principles. Stoicism is used to mitigate the effects of PTSD. People like James Stockdale and Rhonda Cornum have used Stoic principles to cope with conditions that one would view as unbearable. Ancient Stoics like Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus talk a lot about overcoming adverse conditions through the use of Stoic principles.

So, it is easy to think of Stoicism as something to be used when we face difficulties in life. But Stoicism is more than that. It can be (and probably should be) viewed as a way of life, to be used in good times and bad.

Being Stoic every day

In fact, you can practice being Stoic every day of the year. But we may need a nudge to do so. In an article based on his book 365 Ways to be More Stoic, Tim Lebon shares how we can learn to be more Stoic every day of the year – not just when we are distressed – and outlines a dozen principles that we can use. He discusses how we can contemplate upon and practice Stoic principles including acting on what is under our control, practicing virtue to lead a happy life, being serene, finding the right direction in life, practicing self-control, courage, justice and wisdom, coping with adversity, managing our anger, and understanding our life as a whole and concludes his article with five takeaways.

Seeking the right company

Sharon Lebell explains why we should seek the company of those who will uplift us, not just those who will simply reinforce what we already believe. A worthy philosophical friend reminds us of this fact every time they urge us on to choose valour over expediency.

Greg Sadler points our that Epictetus reminded us we are going to be affected by the company we choose and keep. If he were present in our internet hyper-connected era, he’d extend that advice to how we engage with people online – for example, avoiding engaging with people who spread misinformation through social media.

Dealing with wealth

Even when we don’t feel any adversity in our daily lives and even when life offers us wealth, we might be carried away by greed. Seneca’s words can lead us to the virtue of moderation, even though Seneca himself may not have been the best example, says Meredith Kunz.

Accepting whatever comes our way

There are things outside of our control that life gives us, not all of them pleasant. If you can accept exactly what life gives you, both pleasant and unpleasant, and never ask for more or less of either, but accept and even love all of these – that’s grace in the Stoic sense, says Brandon Tumblin.

So, it is not that Stoicism is helpful only when things go wrong – when we face dangers, when we are worried, anxious or angry, when we lose things or when we fail to gain things. It can be equally helpful 365 days a year. It can help us in seeking the right company. It can guide us when we wonder if it is Stoic to engage with toxic individuals in social media.

It can show us how to deal with wealth if we are fortunate enough to be wealthy. It can also show us how to accept whatever comes our way – wealth or poverty, pleasure or pain.

It is for these reasons that Marcus Aurelius kept a journal, and Seneca advised that we reflect on our day at the end of each day.

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