How Stoicism Helps Fill Our Present-day Void
Ellis Sobers is a high school freshman with a passion for philosophy, particularly Stoicism. In her blog and Tedx Talk, she focuses on how Stoicism can help us through everyday situations and can positively affect our lives while repairing political divisiveness.
A year ago, when I was on the line at a track meet or checking into a basketball game, countless thoughts of how I would perform filled and controlled my mind. Would I win the race, or make my shots? But today when I get ready for a game or race, my mind is focused on something small I can execute on in that moment, whether that’s simply catching the person in front of me, or the mechanics of my shot. I no longer worry about the outcome or how others will perceive me.
So what changed? How did a simple shift in mindset help me perform better in sports, school, and everyday situations?
Midway through 8th grade, my mom introduced me to a book by Ryan Holiday, a modern philosopher. It shares a quote a day from a Stoic philosopher as well as an action or message you can use to improve your everyday life. The main Stoic principles focus on controlling what you can control in the present moment, recognizing that no subject is ever truly mastered and instead trying to learn as much as you can.
This advice has not only helped my performance in sports. Stoicism has helped me across all areas of my life including academics. One of my favorite Stoic principles is that no subject is ever fully mastered. I have always been someone who loves learning and reading, especially about history, politics, and science. Now that I’m in high school, though, I’m realizing how easy it is for the idea of learning to get muddled with being correct.
Socrates, a Greek philosopher, used to teach his students not through lectures or tests, but through constant questioning. Whenever a student would express their beliefs or make an assumption, Socrates would ask them questions to help them get to the root of their opinions. He once said, “an unexamined life is not worth living.” This coincides perfectly with what Stoicism is all about. It has taught me to learn in a way beyond simply memorizing what happened in the Punic Wars or how to write a thesis, but to examine my viewpoints through the lens of my core values. Every time I make an assumption or state my opinions, I am reminded that Stoicism asks me to question why I believe what I do or what caused me to make a certain assumption. I’ve learned to always strive to be a lifelong learner, not to master a subject, but to challenge my beliefs and open my mind to diverse perspectives.
Being a lifelong learner has not only affected the way I think about my own beliefs, but the way I think about others’, especially in a political context. Recognizing that you don’t fully understand the beliefs of “the other side” or even your own opinion opens your mind to exploring and learning more about what’s going on in the world and how your values and background are shaping your beliefs. This was a very important revelation for me because it pushed me to seek out all the facts from unbiased news sources and learn about all sides of a story before forming an opinion. Recognizing that I’ll never fully master a subject makes it easier to be curious about other people’s perspectives and seek them out through unbiased sources. By embodying this Stoic mindset, we’re already taking a step toward fostering civil discourse in our society.
Many other Stoic ideas have changed my mind set when it comes to the political divisiveness our society is experiencing. Seeing how divided people are becoming used to make me question whether there was anything I could do. I thought that as a teenager, I didn’t have much of a voice in politics and my small actions weren’t going to fix a global problem.
One of Marcus Aurelius’ quotes in the Daily Stoic completely changed my mind about making a difference. It talks about finding purpose and resilience through actions. It tells us that when something feels difficult or challenging, you shouldn’t succumb to feelings of resentment and hopelessness. Keep moving forward and do the next needed thing, even if it scares you. This Stoic mindset helped me reflect on how change is created. I realized that it doesn’t come from waiting for confidence, courage, justice, or wisdom to come. It’s about living out those values each day of your life and using your voice through your everyday actions.
You don’t have to be a Senator on Capitol Hill or a UN Ambassador to make a difference. Stoicism teaches us the concept of doing the next needed thing, no matter how small your action. These will add up and as you continue focusing your mind on what you can control in the present moment, change will come. That’s how a true Stoic is born.
