Stoicism Journal: The View From Above

A Walk at Dusk by Caspar David Friedrich

Ask someone what they think Stoicism is and you might get a response along the lines of it being a philosophy where you train yourself to repress emotion while exhibiting little to no emotion. In my experience and practice, however, I have found that it is more like cleaning a lens. At its core, Stoicism seems to me to be the active work of releasing negative and distracting thoughts so we can see reality clearly. Through my own practice, I’ve found two primary methods for doing this work and shifting my mind back to its center.

The Perspective of Impermanence

Cultivating an awareness that hard times will pass, and good times are fleeting offers a profound sense of resolve. When I get down, I try to remind myself of the opportunities for a better tomorrow. And when times are good, I try to be aware enough to truly savor the fleeting moment while it is happening. Through this practice the pain of bad times is lessened, and the joy of good times are savored.

Changing the Geometry

While all of this sounds as easy as flipping a switch in my brain, the reality is far more messy and human. It is never that easy, so one powerful method I have discovered for eliminating (or least dampening) a negative thought loop is shifting my physical perspective. Sometimes a book or a nap can reset the mind, but those methods pale in comparison to the simple act of moving, whether that be going on a walk, exercising at the gym, or taking a hike.

Physically moving through the world provides a “view from above” that a desk or a couch cannot offer. Often when I do this, I find I have time to think and the thoughts of the day unfold and reveal their true nature: fleeting and often insubstantial. Movement doesn't just change my heart rate, it changes my outlook, stripping away the weight and power of things that are often trivial.