One of the best ways to control externally induced anxiety is to remain ignorant, a philosophy that says “the easiest way not to worry about things you can’t do anything about is not to know about them”. It’s a very old practice. I first ran into it as a young man when a middle aged woman I worked with told me she no longer watched the news or read the newspaper, adding that it produced too much anxiety in her life for no benefit to her or anyone else. I later ran across others who had done the same. This during a time which was much less anxiety producing than our present day. This approach is more heavily practiced in America today, I believe. One benefit of it is it does limit the effect of PsyOps and propaganda for those who ignore the msm. I witnessed that during the vaccine push. Those who avoided the nightly news and newspapers like the NYTs were more likely to say No to the vaccine. We are no longer “informed” by corporate media. If you want to remain informed you must switch to alternative media, including the burgeoning citizen journalism.
I would agree - but up to a certain point. I think we have a lot of historical examples of people who didn't want to stress too much about the news and didn't escape Europe in enough time during WWII. There is a fine line, sure, about being aware of events and not getting caught up in the 24 hour news cycle... I think that's why I like my warehouse and fullfilment weekly wrap up of world events - :D
Yes there is that fine line, and if you’re on the wrong side of it at the wrong place and time it could be dangerous, just like in 1930s Germany or in the 2020s the world over. Mark Twain is credited with saying that if you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, and if you do read it you are misinformed. Which is worse, to be uninformed or misinformed? There isn’t really an answer other than “It depends”, both are undesirable. Perhaps if we had more Stoicism in the world, with the 4 virtues of Wisdom, Courage, Moderation and Justice, much of our civilizational crisis could be averted. But alas there’s seems a desperate want for all four.
I suppose one of our best tactics can be to study rhetoric, to understand when manipulative language is being used, and to practice skepticism and open minded-ness when reading papers on different political spectrums. That way at least, we can be moderately informed, knowing and appreciating the bias.
While I agree Stoicism is a useful practice in coping with anxiety, I'm skeptical that it's mental training alone can allow us to mitigate it. Other mental, physical, and emotional practices are likely required in conjunction with Stoicism or other forms of mindfulness training to alleviate these negative feelings.
I came across this insight while backpacking the Appalachian Trail and noted that I rarely felt any anxiety during the four months spent in the outdoors despite being prone to it prior to that adventure. I've spent a lot of time researching and reflecting on the meaning of adventure in society.
There is a range of physiological and cultural reasons behind all this but suffice it to say that there are several aspects of life that I believe are important to cultivate that aide in reducing things like fear, anxiety, and depression and also allow us to live a more optimal life.
My working hypothesis toward what I'd call a "theory of life satisfaction" includes things like 1) having a sense of autonomy; 2) building sustainable relationships; 3) having a physical routine of exercise; 4) having an active and healthy sex life; 5) having an intellectual/creative outlet; 6) consistent travel or adventure; 7) having a healthy diet; 8) laughing often.
I think that is a good point that the ancients would have agreed with - just think of the ancient saying of a healthy body and a healthy mind. They would not have separated the body and mind as much as we do today.
Epicurus advised us in order to be happy :1-prevent pain by taking good care of our health, 2-prevent anxiety by not going into debt and 3-have a few good friends and a girlfriend for fun and socialization.
In ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS they teach the prayer: God help change the things that I can change, accept the things I cannot change and give me the wisdom to know the difference.
I'll be one of the speakers on this panel, and I recently did a translation of Ovid's "Remedies for Love." When I got to one passage late in the poem, I stopped dead in my tracks because it looks exactly like a variant of that prayer, though nobody before me seems to have noticed. In my translation, Ovid says: "May the gods grant you the strength to pass by the door of the girl you broke up with. May they make your feet able and up to the task." In a footnote I added: "This couplet, which deals with addiction to a person, bears a striking resemblance to the “Serenity Prayer” used in Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step recovery programs: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Since the modern prayer is ultimately indebted to the Stoic Epictetus, it may well be that Ovid is parodying some Stoic mutual aid organization of his own time."
Join us for the panel if you want to kick this idea around a bit!
One of the best ways to control externally induced anxiety is to remain ignorant, a philosophy that says “the easiest way not to worry about things you can’t do anything about is not to know about them”. It’s a very old practice. I first ran into it as a young man when a middle aged woman I worked with told me she no longer watched the news or read the newspaper, adding that it produced too much anxiety in her life for no benefit to her or anyone else. I later ran across others who had done the same. This during a time which was much less anxiety producing than our present day. This approach is more heavily practiced in America today, I believe. One benefit of it is it does limit the effect of PsyOps and propaganda for those who ignore the msm. I witnessed that during the vaccine push. Those who avoided the nightly news and newspapers like the NYTs were more likely to say No to the vaccine. We are no longer “informed” by corporate media. If you want to remain informed you must switch to alternative media, including the burgeoning citizen journalism.
I would agree - but up to a certain point. I think we have a lot of historical examples of people who didn't want to stress too much about the news and didn't escape Europe in enough time during WWII. There is a fine line, sure, about being aware of events and not getting caught up in the 24 hour news cycle... I think that's why I like my warehouse and fullfilment weekly wrap up of world events - :D
Yes there is that fine line, and if you’re on the wrong side of it at the wrong place and time it could be dangerous, just like in 1930s Germany or in the 2020s the world over. Mark Twain is credited with saying that if you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, and if you do read it you are misinformed. Which is worse, to be uninformed or misinformed? There isn’t really an answer other than “It depends”, both are undesirable. Perhaps if we had more Stoicism in the world, with the 4 virtues of Wisdom, Courage, Moderation and Justice, much of our civilizational crisis could be averted. But alas there’s seems a desperate want for all four.
I suppose one of our best tactics can be to study rhetoric, to understand when manipulative language is being used, and to practice skepticism and open minded-ness when reading papers on different political spectrums. That way at least, we can be moderately informed, knowing and appreciating the bias.
While I agree Stoicism is a useful practice in coping with anxiety, I'm skeptical that it's mental training alone can allow us to mitigate it. Other mental, physical, and emotional practices are likely required in conjunction with Stoicism or other forms of mindfulness training to alleviate these negative feelings.
I came across this insight while backpacking the Appalachian Trail and noted that I rarely felt any anxiety during the four months spent in the outdoors despite being prone to it prior to that adventure. I've spent a lot of time researching and reflecting on the meaning of adventure in society.
There is a range of physiological and cultural reasons behind all this but suffice it to say that there are several aspects of life that I believe are important to cultivate that aide in reducing things like fear, anxiety, and depression and also allow us to live a more optimal life.
My working hypothesis toward what I'd call a "theory of life satisfaction" includes things like 1) having a sense of autonomy; 2) building sustainable relationships; 3) having a physical routine of exercise; 4) having an active and healthy sex life; 5) having an intellectual/creative outlet; 6) consistent travel or adventure; 7) having a healthy diet; 8) laughing often.
I think that is a good point that the ancients would have agreed with - just think of the ancient saying of a healthy body and a healthy mind. They would not have separated the body and mind as much as we do today.
Epicurus advised us in order to be happy :1-prevent pain by taking good care of our health, 2-prevent anxiety by not going into debt and 3-have a few good friends and a girlfriend for fun and socialization.
Premeditatio malorum pairs well with the advice of the stoics (and others) not to worry about things you can’t do anything about
CL
Sometimes imagining the worst thing and then realising how much of it is out of your control is best way.
In ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS they teach the prayer: God help change the things that I can change, accept the things I cannot change and give me the wisdom to know the difference.
Hi Kleomenis,
I'll be one of the speakers on this panel, and I recently did a translation of Ovid's "Remedies for Love." When I got to one passage late in the poem, I stopped dead in my tracks because it looks exactly like a variant of that prayer, though nobody before me seems to have noticed. In my translation, Ovid says: "May the gods grant you the strength to pass by the door of the girl you broke up with. May they make your feet able and up to the task." In a footnote I added: "This couplet, which deals with addiction to a person, bears a striking resemblance to the “Serenity Prayer” used in Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step recovery programs: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Since the modern prayer is ultimately indebted to the Stoic Epictetus, it may well be that Ovid is parodying some Stoic mutual aid organization of his own time."
Join us for the panel if you want to kick this idea around a bit!
Fascinating!!
The Stoics anticipated cognitive-behavioral therapy by two millennia. Never fails to impress me!
Concur!