The stoics believed that serenity comes to those individuals whose will is in accord with the 'Logos'....for right thinking will lead to a reduction of frustration and ANXIETY (is that word meant for me?) In other words, nothing can make me happy, or unhappy without my consent. Supposedly, all unhappiness is the result of poor thinking, poor character and being confused about what I can control and what I cannot. I love the thought of this, but is it attainable? I believe it is.
In the words of Epictetus (a wise and humble sage),
"Remember that thou art an actor in a play, of such a kind as the author may choose: if short, a short one; if long, a long one: if he wishes you to act the part of a poor man, see that thou act the part naturally: if the part of a lame man, of a magistrate, of a private person (do the same). For this is your duty, to act well the part that was given to you; but to not select the part that belongs to another".
I think what he is getting at is that we all have been dealt a different card than someone else. Why sit and wish away our part in this life? Live it and live it well.
He then goes on to say, "We do not need to lift our hands to heaven....God is near you, with you, inside you. Yes....there is a holy spirit abiding within us....No man is good without God".
From many philosophers I have gathered and collected bunches of information that they have tried to find the good in all. They have looked for the truth. They have seen the excellence of God in many things, only lacking the whole of it. They have strategically found bits and pieces of their life's happy journey and have glued them together like a puzzle, sharing with others the happiness that was found, with ONE missing piece. That piece was not yet known of, yet today we all have the last and most important piece of that wonderful puzzle. Perhaps timing was off then, perhaps it wasn't yet meant to be, maybe it was a work in the making, for us in the future of these wise sages. Nonetheless, it is what they have found and lived all their life with honor and dignity. Good on them, for searching for what is good and true. Sometimes led off track by strange ideas, but mostly hanging on the gut feeling, that started the search in the first place.
My goal is to be a stoic and to be a great one! I want to be that stoic who doesn't get mad at the car cutting me off, in rush hour traffic. I long to be the stoic who just smiles at the slow lady in the grocery line, who has nothing better to do than chat with the clerk, while I simply just want to purchase my Mountain Dew and leave! I want to be the stoic who isn't affected when I hear that I've been the topic of ill conversation amongst friends. I just want to be in complete control of my feelings and not dare let another someone (especially someone I don't know) get the best of me. WOW! I've set a high goal, but I believe that keeping my mouth shut will eliminate a lot of let-downs. I want to be just what I am...not a bit less and to do it with all I've got. Quite the goal I will agree, but a work in progress, but I do know that I and only I, am in charge of my feelings. Nobody else can force me to feel good or bad, angry or sad, mad or irritated....those are all mine to claim. My job is to put aside the bad and bring out the good and let Logos do what it will to help me attain my goal. Wish me luck.....I'll need it.
