A Guide to the Good
Life
The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy
William B Irvine
In A
Guide to the Good Life, Irvine offers a refreshing presentation of
Stoicism, showing how this ancient philosophy can still direct us toward a
better life. Using the psychological insights and the practical techniques of
the Stoics, Irvine offers a roadmap for anyone seeking to avoid the feelings of
chronic dissatisfaction that plague so many of us. Irvine looks at various
Stoic techniques for attaining tranquility and shows how to put these
techniques to work in our own life.
Main Ideas of the Book
Frustration can drain our energy and put us in a
bad mood. But what if we could just learn to stay calm in unlikely situations?
In ancient Greece, there were philosophers, known
as Stoics, who argued for a life of moderation, we should avoid frustration and
pain. Reaching this goal is no easy task, but we’re all equipped.
Having a philosophy of life is like having a road
map for your life. Philosophy inspires you to reflect on what you really want
from life. Deciding our goals can be tricky and tiresome in the modern world, where
there are thousands of distractions.
Stoicism can help us move in the right direction. The
Stoics endorse the path of moderation.
We shouldn’t rely on materialistic things that promise short-lived happiness.
Rather, we should find happiness and joy within.
The Stoics saw two central goals worth pursuing: virtue and tranquillity. Being
virtuous might not bring to mind what modern readers think. To the Stoics,
living a virtuous life meant leading the life we were created to live. Living a
virtuous life mean seeing that our actions can benefit not only us but also
those around us.
Second, there is the goal of tranquillity. By tranquillity,
the Stoics aren’t referring to an impassive state. Rather, tranquillity is
achieved by doing away with all negative emotions. Doing this powers our positive
emotions.
We all think of ourselves as fairly noble and
reasonable, but we all always want more, even though many of us are aware that
getting whatever it is we want won’t ultimately make us happier than we are.
Psychologists Shane Frederick and George Loewenstein call this phenomenon
hedonic adaption. But how can we free ourselves from this? We should stop
taking the things we have for granted, and instead should learn to appreciate
them. Learning to appreciate what we have will help us enjoy the world in a
much more philosophical way.
When we imagine losing certain things, we tend to start enjoying them more in the present. To take this principle further, rather than merely picturing the loss of things, we can deliberately abstain from them. But why would we want to voluntarily make ourselves uncomfortable? Firstly, to harden ourselves in truly painful situations. And second, to enjoy better comfort when we return to it.
Abstinence also promotes a strong sense of willpower,
which can be especially helpful for those trying to cure their addictions. We
often pine over something we want to have but just can’t get; it’s not always
in our hands to want things. However, the problem is that we let them trouble
us when we don’t get them.
Stoics separate the things they can control from
the things that are beyond their control. They abandon the search of
uncontrollable things, and focus on finding happiness in things within their
power.
We can also the control the goals and values we
live by. There are certain things over which we have some, but not complete
control, like winning or losing is not entirely in our hands. The best course
of action is to internalize your goal. This means redefining your goal as something
within your control. When we focus on ourselves and our abilities, as opposed
to winning, we might actually perform better.
It can be hard to remain tranquil when dealing with
annoying and mean-spirited people, so what can we do? Since, sometimes we have
no choice but to interact with others, it is better to increase our tolerance
instead of getting irritated. To be more tolerant of others’ behavior, we
should remember that we all have faults.
Another thing we can't control is others’ opinion
of us. No matter what we do, some people will always find a flaw and form a
negative opinion. It’s best to stop seeking the approval of others and practice
indifference. Seeking other people's admiration also means granting them power
over us, because we’re forced to do things that will hold us in their favour.
We should abstain from it too.
According to the Stoics, your mental state
contributes far more to your happiness than wealth. But how can money or a life
of luxury actually make us unhappy? The hedonic adaptation, also applies to
luxury. If we’re living in luxury, not only we will always crave more luxury,
but we’ll also lose our appreciation for the simple things in life.
Death is particularly unpleasant to think about for
nearly all of us. So how do Stoics deal with it? Stoics say that when someone
we love passes away, the most natural reaction is to grieve. They also offer
ways to prevent this grief from consuming us. If we contemplate the death of
others, we can protect against the shock of their death. In a sense, this
visualization prepares us for it. Furthermore, it encourages us to become more
appreciative of those close to us and to treat them better.
We can also use reason to soothe our grief. Like, the
person we lost wouldn't want us to be tormented and depressed, but would prefer
us to be grateful for the time spent together. Stoics suggest that we do not
take our lives for granted and instead, should cherish every moment of it.
How can we develop a Stoic temperament ourselves?
Or, to put it differently, why become a Stoic and what are the benefits? Since
Stoicism is a life philosophy, it can give our life direction and meaning. It
shows us what is worth pursuing and what is not. It can greatly simplify our
lives.
Stoicism makes decision-making easier. We only have
to determine whether a decision helps or hinders our tranquillity, and whether
or not it will help us attain the goals we have set for ourselves.
Developing a Stoic temperament takes time and effort, so gradually apply each technique, one at a time. A good start is practicing negative visualization.
Next, you could make yourself aware of the things you have some – but not all – control over. As you notice them, think of how you can internalize your goals related to them. Lastly, try not to project negatively onto other people. Everyone has their faults. Practicing these steps, makes life a more fulfilling experience.
Ruchika Verma
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