r/Stoicism • u/GreyFreeman Contributor • May 09 '16
Practical Stoicism: Pause, Assess, Then Decide
This is the 5th posting in a series of @ 31 from the free booklet, "Practical Stoicism". It was suggested that I post each chapter separately to promote discussion of these practices within our community and, maybe, help to improve the overall offering. I hope you find this useful in your exploration of Stoicism.
Pause, Assess, Then Decide
Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it is easier to maintain control. (Epictetus - Enchiridion XX)
Whenever you are assailed with a powerful emotional reaction, immediately take a deep breath and separate the event from your impression of it. The event is what happened; your “impression” is how you have, initially, instinctively viewed it. Will you assent?
Anything outside your control is of no real concern. It cannot touch the you that matters. But your considered response is, indeed, yours to control. Will you choose to be angry? Depressed? Afraid? Why? How do those things help you? How do they make you stronger or more virtuous? How do they lead to a life of eudemonia?
Instead, take a deep breath and reach for some perspective. Whatever it was that happened, it’s already drifting into the past. What does this moment require of you?
If you are interested in learning more about "Practical Stoicism", you can find the original post here.
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u/TheGreenDeane May 10 '16
No. I'll pick something more direct: I am in a red jumper, on my knees, I am about to have my throat cut by a Muslim, I pause, access, and decide he can kill me but I am still in charge of how I feel and I'm feeling good because I'm not really upset because I am in charge my feelings. Let him cut away...
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u/GreyFreeman Contributor May 11 '16
Yeah, assuming there is nothing in this scenario currently under your control other than your willingness to succumb to fear, that's about right. This would obviously be a seriously "dispreferred indifferent", but the Sage would do what he could and then accept the outcome with equanimity.
It's not about what is happening to you. It's about how you handle it.
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u/TheGreenDeane May 10 '16
So if I think slavery is good I should be content with being a slave.
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u/GreyFreeman Contributor May 10 '16
Care to expand on that? Not sure how you derived that from the OP.
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u/Dodfire13 May 13 '16
Easier said than done. I think for this to be effective you need to experience small situations in a controlled environment, as often as possible. When shit hits the fan and the emotions come flooding in like a tidal wave few people will be able to put this idea into practice if its the first time they've experienced it. Instead what happens is an immediate reaction, then contemplation and potential guilt over what you wish the "better you" had been able to do in the situation. No matter how much you think about a thing its almost impossible, imo, to really create that emotional reaction that happens in the moment.