The Stoic Art of Navigating Emotions
Our emotions stem from the judgements we form. Since we have control over our judgements, we have control over our emotions and are responsible for them.
"Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed; you must believe that you are being harmed." — Epictetus
According to Seneca, there are three stages to an emotion:
- an involuntary first movement, a natural physiological reaction beyond our control,
- a judgement in response to that experience, which we can control, and
- an emotion that, once formed, is outside our control.
Once an emotion takes over, it is very hard to stop it. Chrysippus compared anger to running so fast that you can't stop, while Seneca likened it to being swept off the top of a building. We must remain vigilant to prevent such emotions from emerging.
Take a moment to reflect on the situation before forming a judgment and succumbing to an emotion.
"When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help." — Marcus Aurelius
Stoicism does not advocate for the suppression of all emotions. Instead, it promotes the cultivation of rationality and virtue to manage emotions effectively. For instance, a parent's love for a child is not an irrational emotion to be avoided. However, emotions such as anger, jealousy, impatience and resentment should be prevented.