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Stoicism - a form of therapy?

Posted by Arashmania • 9/21/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: ancient greek and christian philosophy, dealing with pain and suffering, destiny and fate, life affirmation therapy

My answer is yes. Stoicism can be used as a life-affirmative therapy to help us encounter losses and difficult moments.

arashworld.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-stoicism-can-change-your-life.html

User Comments

9/21/08

Anok

I also think that in small or appropriate doses it helps one live a calmer, more peaceful life.

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9/21/08

earthlingorgeous

left a comment in your blog... maybe I should be stoic from now on

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9/21/08

fairchildonrage

Moderately, yes.

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1. 9/21/08
  
  earthlingorgeous
  
  stoic to all except to my daughter that is
2. 9/21/08
  
  fairchildonrage
  
  of course I to my beau too or else I'm dead
9/22/08

ranist22

I read your article which was immensely interesting as always. Stoicism I think is good for everyday and life's countless irritations. e.g. I've seen people in cars really acting mad and I think being stoic would be a service to everyone who takes the road. But dear Arash where do we fit in poetry? Can we be write poetry if we are stoic? Does stoic mean exercising self- control and mastering emotions or just letting emotions slide over your head like water over a duck's back? These are random questions which occur to me.

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1. 9/22/08
  
  Arashmania
  
  Your questions are very relevant and it is something I still don't have a concrete answer to. Part of me is one of those reckless romantics who wants to ride the roller-coaster ride of passion and poetry, while there is a more reasonable side that wants to live life at a steady pace without too many ups and downs.
  
  Yet I think that there is nothing wrong with having strong emotions as long as they don't blind or cripple us. Poetry can be a form of catharsis where we can express and let out these passionate feelings. This serves also for negative emotions, what Freud called sublimation.
9/22/08

wehireu

Only if you like a lot of pain. Stoicism is about accepting a lot of pain and facing hardship. It is easier to not participate in the hardship to begin with.

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9/22/08

CrystalRaven

I am naturally or unnaturally by enviroment, stoic

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9/22/08

Arashmania

In my case it depends ... sometimes it takes me a lot of discipline and emotional control to be "stoic"

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9/22/08

cooper

Using reason to run your life is usually a good thing. imo.

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