It’s often said that “change is the only constant.” This truth seems to be universally spread throughout many wisdom traditions, including Stoicism. Life is ever-changing – our bodies age and change as we get older, our work environment changes, our friends and families pass away – to name but a few examples. 

Fortunately for the Stoic, our character changes too (if we have intentions to do so). In fact, contending with the changes in our external world develops one’s character – for good or for ill. This article will delve into several examples of change, and how to use Stoicism to contend with them.

The body is a stream

It’s no secret that our bodies are in a constant state of change. Every morning, we get the opportunity to look ourselves in the mirror. And on some of those mornings, we notice things that may strike us as “different”. Perhaps we have just sprouted a new gray hair. Maybe our teeth are becoming stained from our overconsumption of freshly brewed coffee. Observing how our own reflection changes throughout time can be challenging because it reminds us of our mortality. Hence, it is an enforced meditation on one’s death.

Luckily for practitioners of Stoicism, the body is an external. It has no bearing on your character, and so it cannot be labeled as “good” or “bad”. Indeed, it is what’s on the inside that counts. Still, it poses challenge, just like meditating on one’s death does. And that’s the solution to this problem: use the change you notice in your own body as reminder of truth that you will die someday, and that that’s entirely natural.

The ending of eras in our lives

We can practically divide our lives into several “eras”. There are many ways of thinking about this. For example, you could consider childhood an era, or even perhaps the three years you spent at a particular company. Some eras are larger than others, but all must inevitably come to an end.

Let’s take, for example, the ending of high school and consequently the becoming of an adult, as this is one many can relate to. Graduating high school comes with bittersweetness. On the one hand, you are becoming an adult with the freedom that goes along with it. On the other, you are subsequently adopting more responsibility for your own life. No longer will your parents wake you up with a stack of pancakes, garnished with a chocolate chip smile.

Regardless of how one feels about this transition from teenagerhood to adulthood, the Stoic method for wrestling with this remains the same. First, we must recognize that this transition is natural, and that most human beings make this transition. To fight anything that is natural is bad in Stoicism, and not aligned with a good character.

Second, we must use our past and present experience to positively develop our character. For example, perhaps you can have gratitude for what your parents have done for you as you begin to take over these responsibilities. Maybe you can take the nearly failing mark that you got on your university test as a lesson in humility.

The ebbs and flows of life

If you watch closely, you’ll notice that the cosmos is filled with hidden order. The way fire sways, the patterns of the wood in your desk, the layout of cities, and so on. One pattern worth discussing is that of the ebbs and flows of life’s pleasantness.

Like the tides bringing the ocean shores in and out, life is filled with what we may call “ups and downs.” One minute, your life may be filled with luck; your work is going great, you and your family are getting along well, your exercise and nutrition are on point, etc. The next minute, you get fired, your family is fighting over an inheritance, and you’ve somehow put on 10 lbs and have lost your bulging biceps. 

Where to place your attention?

Pleasant times come and go. They come because of both that which is up to you and that which is not (that’s “luck”). What, then? Where do we place our attention in an ever-changing world?

Philosophy. Stoicism. The development of one’s character.

Regardless of what changes are happening in the world around you, Stoicism promises that you can still flourish if you only deem virtue as the only good. It promises that, if we can look inward, we can find contentment amidst the surrounding chaos. Change may be the only constant, but change is not an evil if we use it to positively develop our character.

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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