{"id":109490,"date":"2025-03-10T13:50:04","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T13:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?post_type=news&p=109490"},"modified":"2025-04-28T18:59:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T18:59:37","slug":"how-stoicism-can-help-when-dealing-with-stress-anxiety-and-change","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/how-stoicism-can-help-when-dealing-with-stress-anxiety-and-change\/","title":{"rendered":"How Stoicism Can Help When Dealing With Stress, Anxiety And Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recent economic policies, particularly the imposition of tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, have introduced significant\u00a0unpredictability into the U.S. economy<\/a>\u00a0– creating an effective trade war with both allies and enemies. The S&P 500 fell nearly 2% yesterday, reflecting investors\u2019 concerns over potential impact on global supply chains, spending and profits. Meanwhile, on the employment front,\u00a0CEO resignations<\/a>\u00a0have hit record numbers in the opening months of 2025. Nearly 100 companies have announced\u00a0layoffs in March,<\/a>\u00a0and 15,000 store closures are anticipated in the retail sector this year. The market turbulence underscores a fundamental truth: uncertainty breeds volatility. So how can leaders adapt, cope and thrive during times of stress, anxiety and change? The ancient philosophy of Stoicism offers a fresh perspective in uncertain times.<\/p>\n

Ancient Greek Philosophy of Stoicism Offers Insight into Dealing with Change<\/h3>\n

Today, leaders and aspiring leaders face unprecedented levels of upheaval. Navigating career turbulence requires a deeper understanding of the human operating system, so that you can show up at your best. Stoicism, an ancient philosophy, offers a timeless take on how humans are wired. When we align with how things work, on a human level, we can find wisdom regardless of our circumstances – because a little bit of genius is built into the operating system. If you\u2019re dealing with stress, anxiety and uncertainty, there\u2019s a profoundly simple approach that can help you to turn change into progress. Stoicism offers insights by focusing on what we can control and accepting what we cannot.<\/p>\n

What Is Stoicism?<\/h3>\n

Stoicism, founded in the early 3rd century BC, is a philosophy that teaches the development of self-control, character and human understanding as a means to overcome destructive emotions. (In other words, dealing with stress, anxiety and uncertainty in a way that\u2019s useful, effective and\u00a0easier<\/a>). Prominent Stoic philosophers include Epictetus, a former slave who became a renowned teacher; Seneca, a statesman and advisor to Emperor Nero; and Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor known for his work,\u00a0Meditations<\/em>. These thinkers developed Stoicism to help individuals lead virtuous lives in harmony with nature, based on their own experiences of life, ambition, challenge and resilience. The Stoics stressed the importance of focusing on what is within one\u2019s control.<\/p>\n

Marcus Aurelius stated,\u00a0\u201cIt is in our power to have no opinion about a thing, and not to be disturbed in our soul; for things themselves have no natural power to form our judgments.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0His message points towards the power of choice: we can always choose what we think about, and what we choose to ignore. He\u2019s suggesting that we have the power to choose our reactions and thoughts.<\/p>\n

In his book,\u00a0The Daily Stoic<\/em>, Ryan Holiday shares this key interpretation of Stoicism: \u201cIf we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not only be happier, we will have a distinct advantage over other people who fail to realize they are fighting an unwinnable battle.\u201d Holiday has\u00a0written a series<\/a>\u00a0of best-sellers based on the work of the ancient Greeks, with provocative titles like\u00a0The Obstacle is the Way<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Ego is the Enemy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Here are three Stoic guidelines centered around the concept of control:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Acknowledge What You Can Control<\/strong>: Recognize that while you cannot control external events, you can control your responses to them. This mindset fosters resilience and reduces anxiety about unpredictable circumstances. Holiday says, \u201cSome things are in our control, while others are not. We control our opinion, choice, desire, aversion, and, in a word, everything of our own doing. We don\u2019t control our body, property, reputation, position, and, in a word, everything not of our own doing.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. Accept What You Cannot Control<\/strong>: Understand that trying to control the uncontrollable leads to frustration. Acceptance allows leaders to maintain composure and make clear-headed decisions amidst chaos.\u00a0Brigid Delaney<\/a>, author of\u00a0Reasons Not to Worry: How to Be Stoic in Chaotic Times<\/em>, says she doesn\u2019t beat herself up when she has an emotional reaction to circumstances – thanks to Stoicism. \u201cIt\u2019s about\u00a0keeping even,<\/a>\u00a0so that when you are knocked off course, you can get back on it quickly, by protecting our rational mind,\u201d she says.<\/li>\n
  3. Focus on Intentional Actions – and How You Show Up<\/strong>: Inside any circumstance, you have the ability to control how you respond. While it often seems like we are emotional creatures, driven to flights of frustration, fear and fancy by our circumstances, it\u2019s actually our thinking that determines how we respond to the world around us. The future is a mystery, the past is history, so what can you control right now? That\u2019s the key message from Seneca, who said \u201cTwo elements must therefore be rooted out once for all \u2013 the fear of future suffering, and the recollection of past suffering; since the latter no longer concerns me, and the former concerns me not yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Regret is double suffering, while worry about the future is a misuse of imagination. (Easy things to write, but harder things to internalize, I know). Moving from a state orientation (“how am I feeling about this?”) to an action orientation (“what can be done about this?”), means focusing on what you can control. You become the sum of your actions, not your emotions, the Stoics say.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Self-Leadership and Stoicism in Your Career<\/h3>\n

    Reflecting on your own leadership journey, consider: What are you trying to control? Is this desire creating unnecessary stress? By shifting focus to areas within your control, you can alleviate self-imposed pressures and lead more effectively.<\/p>\n

    Stoicism transcends its ancient origins, offering universal insights into human behavior and resilience. You can control how you show up – that\u2019s always within your control. By applying principles of Stoicism, leaders can transform challenges into opportunities, finding a sense of stability and purpose even in the most uncertain times.<\/p>\n

    To learn more about stress, go to stress.org.<\/a><\/p>\n

    Photo by Josh The Cartoon Guy<\/a><\/p>\n

    Original post From Forbes<\/a><\/p>\n

    ByChris Westfall<\/a>\u00a0, Contributor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Recent economic policies, particularly the imposition of tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, have introduced significant\u00a0unpredictability into the U.S. economy\u00a0– creating an effective trade war with both allies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":110656,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false},"categories":[178,139,10,15],"tags":[136,138,141,143,120,147],"class_list":["post-109490","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-burnout","category-daily-life-blog","category-emotional-support","category-mental-health","tag-ais","tag-anxiety","tag-health","tag-mental-health","tag-stress","tag-stress-management","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow Stoicism Can Help When Dealing With Stress, Anxiety And Change - The American Institute of Stress<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Recent economic policies, particularly the imposition of tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, have introduced significant unpredictability into the U.S. economy - creating an effective trade war with both allies and enemies. 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