The Stoic Virtues are like the four limbs of the body.
The Stoic virtues are guiding principles used to promote mental well-being. They can be described as what one should strive for to live the best version of oneself. I have focused on the four Stoic virtues: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. Wisdom is being able to understand oneself and accept the truth of reality. Courage is taking action and pursuing what one desire despite potential failure or hardship. Justice is maintaining fairness and avoiding exploiting or manipulating others for gain. Temperance is finding a balance between contemplation and action; it allows us to think before we act so that our decisions are not clouded by emotion or external influences.
These values provide a framework for living an ethical life with purpose and meaning; they emphasize accepting responsibility for ourselves and how we interact with others.
Wisdom is one of the most essential Stoic virtues I strive for in pursuing a meaningful life. Wisdom is the cornerstone of countless significant decisions, and I aspire to exercise that virtue in all aspects of my life. It is not only about making intelligent decisions; it is about understanding what lies beyond the logical path and exploring our purpose on this earth. I believe wisdom helps us recognize our abilities, strengths and weaknesses. As Stoics say, “Know thyself” — if we are self-aware, we can make wiser choices that cultivate our true potential externally and internally.
Wisdom also helps me remain compassionate towards myself and others when facing difficult situations or struggles in life.
Courage is an ancient Stoic virtue that continues to endure the test of time. Originating with the ancient Greeks and Romans, courage is a central tenet in Stoic philosophy. To be courageous means to confront fear and danger without flinching, but it also entails having the inner strength to act rightly even when faced with adversity. It involves accepting that we are human and can make mistakes yet being brave enough to take risks knowing this fact. Courage helps us meet life challenges like depression, failure or financial setbacks while maintaining our hope and optimism.
On a physiological level, courage is closely related to resilience. Being courageous allows us to cope better and manage stress more effectively despite difficulties or obstacles.
Justice is a cornerstone of Stoic philosophy, emphasizing rationality and controlling emotions. We must act with justice to remain in harmony with the universe and our relationships with others. Living a life of justice means treating others fairly, being honest in all dealings, and honouring our commitments. Justice also entails respecting other people's rights and taking responsibility for our actions so that society functions harmoniously. Through justice, we strive for a balance between ourselves and those around us and between ourselves and the natural world.
Justice requires courage because it demands that we stand up for what is right even when it may not be convenient or popular. It asks us to practice self-discipline by putting aside our desires in favour of truthfulness and fairness; this can often be more difficult than succumbing to temptation or peer pressure.
The Stoic virtue of Temperance is well-known among philosophers and can be applied in our everyday lives. Temperance is the process of self-control, which means living within one’s means and learning to say no to certain things. It is a way of cultivating endurance and fortitude in adversity or temptation. By mastering temperance, we know how to regulate our behaviour so we don’t overindulge ourselves or give into harmful passions. This cognitive process makes us better at managing stressful situations without resorting to rash decisions or emotional outbursts.
Temperance rewires our brain chemistry by teaching us to focus on what truly matters and helps us cultivate an inner strength that will help us overcome any challenge thrown our way.
The Stoic Virtues are like the foundation of a robust and healthy body; they provide an essential framework for making wise decisions and taking action in life.