I wrote this awhile back, and I think I even posted it here. Unfortunately, old account got shadow banned for "wrong think." Mastering Stoicism has become more necessary than ever for men. Due to so much uncertainty regarding all that's going on, more loss of freedoms and restrictions by the gov by the day, each day they have some new narrative/propaganda that's going on, which is affecting our lives in one way or another. For example where I live, we are back into crazy dystopian lockdowns. More than 80% of population got vaccinated, and plus with all these implementations of vaccine passports and what not, still we're in a crazy lockdowns which was just announced yesterday. Everything that you can name of, is now closed.

Now first of all, what is Stoicism? Stoicism is the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and complaint. Most of us, I bet have heard about 3 famous Greek Philosophers. Aristotle, Socrates and Plato. But, I want to talk about Stoicism because a lot of people don't know about it, and many confuse it with being emotionless or numb. Nope. That's not what Stoicism is. Stoicism is a philosophy, which was invented in the early 3rd century. Combined with TRP, it can lead to a very incredible and a positive life. It allows you to minimize negative emotions and maximize your gratitude and joy. There were 3 stoic principal leaders: Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca.

Number 1. Emperor Marcus Aurelius was a big adherent of stoicism and it helped him lead Rome for 2 decades. He wrote many things regarding stoicism in his journals. Stoicism gave Aurelius a huge advantage in life and in his kingship. He lead Rome through many disastrous battles, plagues and through many hardships. But, he always kept his cool and was never negative. He took whatever came at him, in a very stoic and positive way, with the right mind set.

Number 2. Epictetus was born a slave. He founded his own school of Stoicism and thought many great minds, and 1 of them was the future emperor Marcus Aurelius. Epictetus thought everything, not just theoretically, but everything from the philosophy of life, how to handle different situations that we are faced with each day, and greatly, how to Master Stoicism in your day to day life to keep you calm and at peace. He thought us that, all external events are beyond our control. We should accept everything that comes to us calmly, because that thing is not in our control. But, however, each individual is solely responsible for their own actions. We cannot blame society or anyone else regarding our own decisions that we partake in. Each individual is solely responsible for whatever they do, that is in their control.

Number 3. Seneca was a play writer and 1 of Rome's most wisest brokers. He wrote many books on stoicism and was an adviser to Nero (Another Roman emperor).

Key principles and beliefs:

Number 1. Live in agreement with nature. We Men are rational beings. We use our common sense, logic and practicality in our day to day life unlike women, who base majority of things, off of their emotions and "how they feel at that exact moment."

"Living in agreement with nature" simply means, behaving rationally in each and every situation like a logical being. Not basing everything off of emotions.

Number 2.  Live by virtue. They make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally principled life. The four cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, courage and temperance.

Number 3. Focus on what you can control, and accept what you can't. Many things in our day to day life, is in our hands that we can control fully. But, many things aren't. Whether it's the weather, nature of women, politics, all these restrictions, or the clown world, none of this is in our control. So, we shouldn't worry. We should accept how it is, because even if we worried, what can you do about it? Nothing. It's not in our control, but what's in our control is, accepting the cold hard facts and leading a virtuous life, which focuses on bettering ourselves, and something which benefits humanity.

Number 4. Distinguish between good, bad and indifferent things. You must acknowledge in your day to day life, between what's right and wrong and indifference doesn't mean coldness. You can't change them (AW-ALT) but take them as they are.

Number 5. Take action. The power to shape your life in whatever way you want, is in YOUR hands. Take this opportunity and take action, and do something positive with it that will benefit you.

Number 6. Practice Misfortune. Ask what can go wrong. For example, if someone was to smoke all their life, what would happen? Lung cancer and many types of diseases and cancers. So, what we do? We tell them not to smoke, because the consequences of their actions will do nothing but harm them. Exact thing we men do. We remind ourselves of the consequences of thinking with what's downstairs, and getting "emotional" rather than thinking rationally, and long term. Just imagine, if all the divorced men whose wives made their lives miserable, were to have all this knowledge? They would have been way happier and never made the mistakes they did. And now, they live in regret, but at least they realized it. We have to make our brothers aware, and make them wake up before it's too late. Living in the so called "hope strategy" will make you nothing but delusional, and it's like your in Lala dream land. The real world doesn't work that way. As a famous saying goes, "Iron sharpens iron, so 1 man sharpens one another."

Number 7. Add a reserve clause to your actions. True inner peace and happiness is not found in being very rich, or having that very expensive car, or that big house. That so called "happiness" fades away very fast. Winning is the not the ultimate goal, rather, the ultimate goal is being the best player and playing the best you can, which ironically, will lead to your win. Rather than only thinking of winning and drowning in self confidence, which in the end, does more harm than good. It's good to have high self confidence, but always remember to be in your limits. Your victories and over confidence can lead to your destruction. The point is, always remain humble.

Number 8. Love everything that happens (Amor fati). Now let's say something happened that we didn't wish for. What would happen? You either accept it or live in negative thoughts, which affects your mental health. What's the more wiser option? Accept it. Stoicism calls this, "The art of acquiescence." The first step is to accept it, and then the next step is to love everything that happens. Why? Because those things ultimately are not in our control.

Number 9. Turn Obstacles into opportunities. You know why most people are always negative? They see obstacles as barriers and live in this deception, that they cannot overcome it. There are many instances in life, that you can turn those obstacles into opportunities for your own success. But you know what the catch is? Being stoic, and thinking everything through from all fronts and then analyzing everything and then coming to conclusions, will eventually lead you to success. This "art" many cannot do. Most people are a slave to their emotions, and never be that. Be rational, thus be stoic.

Number 10. Be mindful. In this life, you have the power over your emotions, no matter what those emotions maybe. You must remember, any emotion that you get, will either do you good or bad. 1 of my favorite sayings of all time is "Before thinking of a short term gain, first think of it's long term affects." You must master the art of controlling your emotions, and being practical and logical no matter what. And rather thinking of the short term gain, first think of the long term affects of that action.

In the end brothers, it's AWALT and that is not in our hands. But what is in our hands is, how we accept it. And the best thing a man can do in the modern age is focus on himself, do good in whatever he can, and Master Stoicism in whatever life throws at him. And being always very sharp of his surroundings and Mastering Machiavellianism.

As they say, never be so nice that people take advantage of you, and never be so harsh that they only fear you. Balance is key, and now, this is were Machiavellianism comes in. You must function through life based on the tactics that apply in each and every aspect of your life. This is were intellect and common sense comes in, and unfortunately, many lack of it, no matter if they have more "degrees" than a thermometer.

In conclusion my brother's, no one is going to help you function through this clown and circus world. In the end, it's only you. And you have to accept that harsh reality, before your life becomes miserable, because you stayed in that delusional fantasy. Remain that person, who is always stoic and who is unbreakable no matter what life throws at him.

Some famous stoic sayings:

The best revenge is not to be like your enemy. Marcus Aurelius. Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be One. — Marcus Aurelius

You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.—Marcus Aurelius

He who fears death will never do anything worth of a man who is alive.—Seneca

Life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future.—Seneca You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.―Marcus Aurelius

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.―Epictetus

True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not. ―Seneca

Indeed. These quotes man... Just too deep. These guys were truly way ahead of their times.