On Stoicism.

Stoicism is a philosophy which flourished for several hundred years starting off in ancient Greece and Rome. Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius were the hallmarks of this philosophy.
Before I start to delve deeper, lets define what is stoicism...or rather, who is a stoic?

According to the online Google dictionary it is defined as: "a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining"

I find that definition too superficial and simplistic. Being a stoic, or following stoic philosophy shouldn't be defined by the external manifestation. It is actually defined by the internal processing and perception of the world, which will eventually lead to the external response to the world.

For example, a person who is subjected to great pain may not show feelings or complain for several reasons:
1. they are dead
2. comatosed
3. acting
4. apathetic
5. hopeless and drained.
6. they are aphasic.

I know some of those reasons are comical, but it is equally ridiculous to describe a philosophy based on the end result. The idea of philosophy is that it helps humans think and live life in a fulfilled and meaningful way. It also aims to help us look deeper on life and possibly find solutions to everyday issues.
That is why I love philosophy. It is so theoretical and yet with the right attitude you can translate it into real life.

For me stoic philosophy has influenced my life greatly. A lot of my attitudes to life can be reflected in stoic philosophy. And the first and foremost idea behind it is to only truly concern oneself with what one can control. To not be overly optimistic about life and expectations from the external world (have intermittent periods of thoughtful pessimism). The belief that the external world is, for the most part already determined...and the only thing we can actually be free on, is our attitudes and mental processes. Knowing that your negative reactions of the world and especially anger are a result of faulty cognition and overly optimistic expectations from the world.

To expect the very worst and not attach to externals over which we have no control, could lead to a human who is calm and ready in the face of adversity. Someone who isn't overly horrified with the atrocities of life. Undisturbed by the unexpectedness or inconveniences of life. People following stoic philosophy could be seen as complacent, passive or even submissive. Sometimes even perceived as someone who is disconnected from reality and lives in their own world. Just because a person isn't overtly resistant or expressively disgusted from the corruptness of the society in which they live doesn't mean they are oblivious of it...they know of it but they chose not to give mental energy to such things on which they have little control over. 
They don't complain much, not because they're repressing it, but because they don't actually care too much for complaining. They have high levels of tolerance, not because they're explicitly strong or unemotional, but because they understand that suffering is alright and something not to be fought. It is a fact of life.

Starter kit to Stoicism


Further elaboration of Stoicism