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Stoicism In Ancient Times

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The dictionary defines Stoicism as "the repression of emotions and indifference to pleasure or pain." [Ref. dictionary.com]. In ancient Greece and Rome, Stoics believed "people should strictly restrain their emotions in order to attain happiness and wisdom. Hence, they refused to demonstrate joy or sorrow." [Ref. dictionary.com]. Some 2,000-plus years later there is still a belief that stoicism is something to be admired or copied as it infers to and supports an exalted sense of knowing. It is not difficult to envision a lot of profound Greek thinkers, philosophers, astrologers, etc. who possibly identified with a false sense of superiority based on some profound understandings they had. It's also not farfetched to envision many Roman politicians, military strategists, gladiators and such who saw stoicism as a manner of behavior that kept them elevated from the uninformed masses. …show more content…

Straight-forward, honest self-reflection will prove this understanding to anyone who welcomes such a commitment to life. Granted it's tough to undercover and dissipate an ego the size of Texas; it's even tougher and infinitely more difficult to undo what is set into motion when stoicism prevails. Stoicism doesn't allow others to sense what it means to falter and fall; to pick yourself up and get on with living in such a way that doesn't keep others in the dark; questioning their own interpretations, which may be appropriate but lacking a certain degree of maturity. Courage, sincerity, and authenticity reside in the willingness to humbly acknowledge infinite unknown factors that were part of an equation that was faulty from the get-go. Unbridled joy and ease does not mask the intangible wounds of our psyche, it puts life in perspective akin to the essence of our wisdom which is not achieved through

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