I’ve never got into academic philosophy (it all just seems like word games to me) but I am curious about how to go about living a moral and satisfying life. It would be nice to share a principle or two with all the cool stoic kids on the internet, I think. So what’s this stoicism all about?
The basic principle of stoicism1, as I understand it, is:
Some things in life are within your control, and some are not.
From this simple observation comes a deeper thought:
Your actions and reactions to events are really the only things you have any control over.
And the way you control your behavior is:
Use your rationality to keep your feelings in perspective. One way is to use negative visualization (imagining what’s the worst that can happen) as a way to really appreciate your life.
OK, you may be thinking, what does any of this have to do with the daily reality of teaching English in noisy coffee shops, dancing with pre-schoolers in the park or forcing a smile when a salaryman student makes the same-old joke: “My hobby is sleeping”?
Everything.
My basic approach to teaching a lesson is stoic — I model and provide practice for the target language to the best of my ability but it’s up to the student (and therefore beyond my ability to control) to internalize the new language forms. All I can do is keep teaching the best lessons that I can.
Consider your business goals — to get 10 new students? To open your own school? To open 200? To make a billion yen? Well, the good stoic would say those goals depend on too many factors beyond your control. Instead, focus on what you can do right now. Aim to become a better teacher. Learn more about English. Sort out your own schedule to allow the growth you seek to happen, for example.
And accept that bad things happen, especially those things beyond your control. Did a favourite student quit? They all do eventually. Your thriving business will turn to dust one day. You will die, you know? But things could always be worse. Sick of teaching in coffee shops? Beats teaching kids in the park. Sick of teaching kids in the park? Beats working for a chain school. Sick of working for a chain school? Well, can you do something right now to change your reality? Probably.
And if things are going really well, a little negative visualization helps keep you grounded. Occasionally, I imagine what my life would be like if the absolute worst happened — if I lost all my students, my vision failed, my wife died, or, ye gods, my Amazon account was revoked. And when I have such morbid thoughts, invariably two positives occur:
I really appreciate all the good things, no matter how small they might seem, that I have going on in my life right now.
I think I could probably survive just about any calamity and adjust to the new reality if I had no choice.
Works for me. And it might for you too.
All the best,
Patrick
Stoicism was a philosophical movement popular in ancient Greece and Rome before Christianity’s promise of everlasting paradise got more converts than the boring old stoics’ grinning and baring life’s bad turns. Check out A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irving for a readable introduction to practical stoicism. My review of the book is here.