Sixty seconds to a happy life

If you can spare just 60 seconds, Stoicism will teach you a fundamental principle that will make you a happy and free person.

Dear Fellow Prokoptons,

You are about to embark on an exciting journey towards becoming a practicing Stoic. While your first magazine issue will be in your hands in about two weeks, and your daily emails from January 1, you can start preparing yourself for the journey by reading the Stoic Atlas I sent you. Here is a quick summary of Stoicism, which will be expanded in the coming issues of Prokopton.

Your fellow-prokopton

Chuck Chakrapani

Stoicism in 60 seconds

You can be free, happy, and serene no matter what else is happening around you if you understand one basic truth: some things in life are under your control, and others are not. Yet, if we examine our thinking, we will see that our worries and anxieties are mostly about things we can do nothing about. Instead of worrying about things that are not under our control if we spend our time acting on only what is under our control, our lives will change in a way we can’t even imagine now. Let’s see what this means.

Here are a few examples.

You have lost your job. You worry about it, getting angry and frustrated. Yet it is not under your control, and you are simply making yourself unhappy. But many other things are under your control. You can enjoy your meal. You can enjoy the few days between jobs. You can apply for a new job. You can send the word out that you are now free to accept a new job. Instead of worrying about losing your job, you can do many things that will improve your life.

You are diagnosed with a disease like cancer. You can be devastated by it. You may ask yourself, “Why me?” You may go over what you did wrong in your mind. But you already have the disease and can do nothing about it. Yet, there are many things under your control. You can decide to enjoy your life as much as possible, no matter what happens. You can see a specialist. You can change your unhealthy habits. All these things are under your control and will likely improve your life.

If you attempt to get both what is under your control and what is not, you may get neither. Therefore, you clearly need to distinguish between the two. So what things are under your control and what are not?

Things that are under your control: what you believe, what you desire or hate, what you are attracted to and what you try to avoid. You have complete control over these, so they are free, and not subject to restraint or hindrance. They concern you because they are under your control.

Things that are not under your control: your body, property, reputation, status, and the like. Because they are not under your total control, they are weak, slavish, subject to restraint, and in the power of others. They do not concern you because they are outside your control.

Our window of control may appear small, but it is large enough to lead us to freedom, happiness, and serenity.

Everything that happens around you or to you is part of reality, presented to you. How you deal with these things will decide whether you will be happy and free or miserable and bound. You need to deal with what happens to you using things that are under your control. You will be hindered and frustrated when you try to deal with them using things not under your control. If you lead your life confining yourself only to things under your control, no one can stop you from being free, happy, and serene.

Acting excellently. However, to practice this principle effectively, you need four special skills or four “excellences” (also known as virtues): practical wisdom, moderation, courage, and justice.

Once you start confining your actions to what is under your control and practice practical wisdom. moderation, courage, and justice, you are on your way to a flourishing, happy life. Nothing can stand in your way.

Practicing Stoicism

Yes, Stoicism is that simple. And yet, just knowing the basics will not get you far. Neither will random reading of Stoic literature. To achieve happiness and freedom, you must consistently commit yourself to practicing Stoicism. Every day. Musicians do it. Athletes do it. No excellence can be achieved without practice. We are here to help you all the way. So, fellow Prokoptons, we are glad you joined us by committing to practicing Stoicism daily! Watch your mailbox for more instructions in the coming days!

If you are not yet a part of the prokopton community, please consider joining us. It may be one of the best decisions of your life.