Stoicism – in the ancient Roman and Greco world the philosophy of thriving in stressful situations was founded. Zeno spread the word from the colonnades and porches of Greece, Seneca branded it, Marcus Aurelius battled with it, relied on it and thankfully penned it, George Washington lived it, Nelson Mandela not only used it to survive his imprisonment he carried and delivered his courage, vision and freedom to millions.
Hedonism is the school of thought that pleasure and happiness are the most important aims in life. Think Caligula, Marie Antoinette and other Monarchs, Jordan Belfort in the Wolf of Wall Street and I know you can think of someone in your life who aspires to hedonism.
Humanity needs more courageous people following stoic principles and far less egocentric hedonists. Hmm, wonder what world leaders in 2017 we could label egocentric hedonists?
In every community there are men and women, who act with courage, use wisdom, show temperance and strive for justice. Resilience is developed out of learning to survive difficult times – stoicism is a defence to manage and thrive in life. Teaching how to be courageous involves understanding it is okay to make mistakes- we learn from them. It’s about not giving up but trying again. As a teacher and also as a parent I encourage having a go, trying and mastering learning often from mistakes. Problem solving is the most fundamental part of learning. Analysing thoughts, life experiences and dealing with consequences is all part of developing one’s own wisdom and being courageous is not about skydiving, although I think anyone who does is, it’s about facing challenges and taking a stand- using integrity and standing firm in your conviction. Yes, it is about overcoming fears but not always. To be courageous in spirit is to give of yourself no matter how difficult, to use the power of will to overcome challenges.
Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor, neurologist and psychiatrist knew the power of will in finding meaning in life, he knew it was essential to thriving. Teaching patients and lecturing on creatively, experientially and attitudinally finding meaning in life rather than hedonistically seeking pleasure in the pursuit of happiness was his brand of psychiatry- logotherapy and it applies the principles of stoicism.
Learning to use experiences, utilising strengths and minimising weaknesses, applying the art of problem solving, using resources available and establishing and creating solutions is how I have sought to live life. It is the premise of my surviving difficult times and what I actually teach to teenagers every day. Practising and training myself in mindfulness allows me to accept each day and experience as it unfolds. I have fought over many years to quell my anxiety and it is focusing on one day at a time that has helped me the most. Learning to just live in the moment and enjoy it is an art and the Buddhist way of life is one in which suffering is accepted, moral principles of integrity are applied and courage, patience, tolerance, intelligence, compassion and flexibility are encouraged and developed.
Seeing the sunset and watching the sheer beauty of each day slip away ready for the beauty of the everchanging night sky is part of my daily thankfulness. Living daily in such beauty makes me grateful and it aids me in calming whatever is internally troubling me. It allows me to dream and seek new possibilities every single day. Finding a visual or sensory experience that invokes gratitude is all part of thriving.
Happiness is what we all perhaps hope for in our lives as our nirvana but teaching and learning how to be resilient and cope with challenges and just deal with and get through difficult moments, as unscathed as possible is essential. Teaching and developing resilience is about experiencing hard times, it is about letting students make mistakes and to reward with acknowledgment achievement and encouraging others to persevere to achieve end goals. It is about learning in difficult times and appreciating that everything is not always easily attainable. Attitudinal flexibility and reflective thinking in our schools needs developing more than ever as does commitment, grit and acceptance.
As I reflect on the elected leaders on the world stage there are a range of compassionate, authoritarian, democratic and stoic leaders and then there are the others. The cringeworthy leaders all share traits we don’t wish to encourage. Ego drives too many of our leaders in workplaces, schools and communities.
Let’s hope we can support and encourage as parents, teachers and mentors individuals who are resilient, compassionate, intelligent, can accept and deal with challenge, learn in difficult times, develop wisdom, manage their emotions and most of all be grateful. Encouraging our youth to live and thrive not just for hedonistic purposes but accepting that there will always be dark and light, joy and sadness and we need to teach that life is about more than finding and seeking pleasure or happiness, it is also about learning to live through emotional and mental challenges. In schools and communities- anxiety, depression, mental illness and well being are challenges that need addressing and also they need to be accepted rather than stigmatised.
Teaching has become so much more than delivering curriculum to students. In my educational toolkit I have a combination of content knowledge, expertise in design and applying design and inquiry thinking and learning, a mix of stoicism, Buddhism, mindfulness and wisdom. My effectiveness as a teacher and parent comes from years of knowing how to develop relationship in classrooms and to bring out the best in people. My skills will always be secondary to my resilience, or ability to thrive in life. Will power and determination are traits I have developed and with stoicism I hope I empower others to discover their own personal meaning and role in life.
Fundamentally, to thrive and survive in the 21st century the principles of living life with a Buddhist and stoic philosophy and realising that what awaits you in the future is simply possibility. When you look at the universe and life, no two days or skies are ever the same and dreams possibly can come true, but it does take commitment to achieve any worthwhile goal.
‘For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me want to dream.’ Vincent Van Gogh
‘Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them’ – Marcus Aurelius
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