Have you ever wished life came with instructions? Where are all the answers anyway? Would you like to have a “manual for living”?

Well, it turns out you’re in luck. Once upon a time way back in the First Century there was a slave who gained his freedom and became one of the first of a new breed — a philosopher. Born into slavery in Hierapolis, Phrygia, in the Eastern reaches of the Roman Empire, Epictetus became a renowned teacher in Rome until AD 94 when the emperor Domitian exiled him, fearing the influence of the new school of thought known as philosophy.

In exile he established a an institution dedicated to teaching his methods and wisdom and counted among his students the influential thinker Marcus Aurelius. His branch of philosophy on the tree of knowledge became known as Stoicism and those who lived by it as Stoics.

So when you’re in search of an answer to one of life’s many conundrums, good old Epictetus boiled down a great many maxims in The Discourses and The Enchiridion. His advice and insights make short work of our modern problems coming from his personal school of hard knocks as a Roman slave.

Teaching that progress is more important than perfection, he insisted that the path to refinement has nothing to do with accident or luck. It is available to all, highborn or not, and the key is working on yourself daily. Being stoic has nothing to do with suffering in silence, it’s simply the essence of being personally responsible for your actions and your state of mind.

“Pay no attention to things that don’t concern you.” “Conform your wants and expectations to reality.” “Quietly accept events as they occur.” These are the kind of ideas that allow you to get on with your own business and move forward on your appropriate path.

“Approach life as if it were a banquet.” Everything you need will come your way if you practice gratitude and polite restraint. There’s no need to yearn, envy or grab.

“Avoid adopting other people’s negative views.” It’s the fastest path to self-sabotage to allow yourself to join another in wrongheaded feelings. You can show kindness and a sympathetic ear without getting dragged down yourself.

Likewise, “Be careful about the company you keep.” Every person you associate with can have an effect on your destiny. It’s human nature to imitate the behavior of those around you. Remember, moral influence goes both ways, so do your best to be an example and draw out the best in others.

“Wisdom is revealed through action, not talk.” This one comes down to us through the ages as “Actions speak louder than words. You’ve no doubt seen this in action many times in your life.

“Seeking to please others is a perilous trap.” Live life on your own terms in your own eyes. The corollary to this is that “Happiness can only be found within.”

Stoicism is grounded in positivity. “Never suppress a generous impulse.” “Speak only with good purpose.” “Create your own merit.” These are all enlivening attitudes that serve to bolster your esteem from within.

Stoicism revolves around a couple of important and interdependent principles. One boils down to not worrying about what other people think. That’s great and all, but it only works if you also hold yourself to high ideals and conduct yourself with gracious integrity.

Why am I rambling on about Epictetus, King of the Stoics today? Well, I happened to be reading a piece by Tom Wolfe, (My Three Stooges, in the anthology Hooking Up) where he talks about writing his second novel, A Man in Full. In that book, the young hapless hero Conrad Hensley mistakenly gets a copy of a book on the Stoics delivered to him in prison. Applying the principles to his unlikely turn of events leads him to an outcome that is far beyond his expectations. I won’t spoil it here in case you’re of a mind to enjoy some adventurous summer reading.

I’ll leave you with this: “It’s never too late to start living your ideals.” May these words serve you well in the week to come!

Much love till next Monday!

M+

Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine