The practice of being present is often seen as a Buddhist idea, however, it is also a very core Stoic idea. But what does it mean to be present to a Stoic, and how does one incorporate it into daily life?

The uncertain future

If we are not immersed in the present moment, then we are either thinking about the past or the future. To start, let’s consider how the future is uncertain. We have no idea what will happen tomorrow or if tomorrow will even come. That is a humbling realization, truly, and it begs the question: why should we spend too much time contemplating what could be when it isn’t guaranteed?

That isn’t to say that a Stoic spends no time at all planning for what’s to come. For example, there is the practice of premeditation of evils, in which the Stoic ponders what could potentially go wrong and what to do if it does go wrong. Such a practice is essential in being able to deal properly with what could come. However, this practice is done to prepare you for how to react in the present if this scenario comes to pass. I

would venture to guess that most of the future thinking that we find ourselves absorbed into is centred around worry, anxiety, or even excitement. Emotions like worry and anxiety can become overbearing for obvious reasons, but what about excitement? Why is that such a bad thing?

I do think that Stoics can feel excited about certain things, but they must do so while remaining detached. What that looks like in practice is accepting that the very situation that you are excited about could not happen as you wish, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be happy and accepting of whatever does happen in its place. Be excited, but with detachment: that seems like the Stoic path.

The unchangeable past

Aside from looking forward, many of us fall into the trap of spending too much time looking back. There are reasons to ponder and evaluate your past – past experiences are where you learn the lessons needed to improve your future.

However, there are other ways in which looking back can be unStoic. As an example, consider the person who has lost their partner to cancer and spends much time dwelling on the wonderful times they’ve had together and correspondingly wishing and hoping that they were still alive.

Grieving is a normal process, but Stoic detachment means accepting that you can achieve eudaimonia, even after losing a loved one. That doesn’t mean that you don’t love and care for people, but it does mean that you acknowledge your own strength in being able to live your life productively in the future without them.

Again, this isn’t to say that thinking back on good memories is inherently unStoic, but it must be done in moderation within the context of a life that is still moving forward. Going through a photo album every now and then is fine; living the rest of your life shut off from future opportunities because you can’t stop recollecting how much better the past was than right now is not.

On being present

Finally, we come to the present. Remember: the present moment is all we have. Life is fleeting; moments slip away with every breath. Even when pondering the future, you are still forced into the present moment – you are simply trying to bring that very uncertain future right here and now, which cannot be done.

Similarly, when over-evaluating the past, you are not making the present from the past; you are fooling yourself into thinking that that past moment is here. But it’s not. The present is right here and now. It is fleeting, but it’s all you’ve got.

Daily life practices

Where does the rubber meet the road with this Stoic practice?

Being Stoically present looks like taking a moment to observe the clouds in the sky when you have a workday that’s overwhelming. It looks like taking a short breather from your computer and analyzing the shapes in the wood on your desk, in wonder about nature’s order. It looks like reminding yourself that those around you will not be here forever, so perhaps you should take a moment to feel some gratitude for them.

Like many philosophical ideas, being present is easy to understand in concept but it can be tricky to implement. The way forward is simple practice! Remind yourself to be more present throughout your day, and you’ll improve. Before you know it, you’ll be like Marcus Aurelius, reminding yourself regularly to not worry about the past or future too much; it’s far from certain.

Brandon is most well-known for his podcast, The Strong Stoic Podcast, where he discusses philosophical ideas both solo and with guests. He also coaches individuals to help them be their best selves, writes articles, plays music, manages projects, and several other things.

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