most of us have that friend who always seems unshakeably confident fitting the mold of what modern society deems as self assured they move with an air of certainty as if they were naturally imbued with this trait from birth but when we dive into the depths of stoic philosophy we're presented with a nuanced profound understanding of confidence what do the stoics consider to be true confidence let's unravel this together in today's video confidence a term so often thrown around has roots that delve deep into our psyche it's not a veneer we put on for show but
rather it's intrinsic to our being and if there's a group who truly grasped the essence of confidence it was the stoics the stoics approach to confidence was also deeply interconnected with their understanding of the cosmos they beli that everything is interwoven in a predetermined order a concept known as fate this understanding rather than leading to resignation fueled their confidence if everything is pre-ordained then our role is not to resist but to understand and work in harmony with this natural order confidence to the stoics was not about exuding Charisma or displaying dominance it was a quiet
Assurance rooted in the understanding of oneself and the natural order of things take for example epicus born a slave he later became one of the most renowned stoic philosophers despite facing life's adversities he held an unwavering belief in his own reasoning abilities epicus did not allow his external circumstances to dictate his internal State instead he derived Confidence from within from an understanding that our reactions not our situations Define us another Vivid embodiment of stoic confidence is senica his life was not without controversy or challenge having faced Exile and later forced to end his life yet
his writings indicate a man who was deeply secure in his beliefs when faced with Exile instead of wallowing in despair senica used the time to write and study he saw every challenge as an opportunity for reflection and growth senica's letters to his friend lilus are a testament to this he wrote about the impermanence of Life the Folly of chasing Fame and the importance of self-awareness each letter in its own way was a lesson on how to live with confidence amidst uncertainty you might wonder how did the stoics achieve such unwavering confidence well well they began
by understanding that confidence is not about having all the answers but about being okay with not knowing it's about understanding that life with all its unpredictability is out of our control what remains within our control however is our response to it in their quest for understanding confidence the stoics also frequently contemplated death it may seem counterintuitive but this this momento Mori a reflection on mortality fortified their confidence by regularly reminding themselves of the fleeting nature of Life they became more courageous making the most of each moment Marcus Aurelius the Roman Emperor and stoic philosopher faced
Wars plagues and personal losses yet his personal notes which we now know as meditations offer a glimpse into the mind of a person who despite the tumultuous world around him remained composed and confident he wrote you have power over your mind not outside events realize this and you will find strength as most of you already know the stoics held nature in high regard they saw nature as a teacher offering lessons in resilience growth and change trees for instance Stand Tall not because they actively resist the wind but because they Bend and Sway With It demonstrating
flexibility and strength such observations were metaphors from Which stoics derived their brand of confidence emulating this stoic confidence requires us to shift our perspective instead of viewing confidence as a trait that some possess and others lack we should see it as is a muscle and like any muscle it requires consistent practice and reflection to be strengthened the stoics did this through daily journaling meditation and engagement in Socratic dialogue another lesson from the stoics is the avoidance of external validation while Society often equates confidence with accolades and achievements stoics believed in internal validation they understood that
the search for external praise is endless and often leads to dissatisfaction for stoics confidence came from living in accordance with nature and their own principles cryus another pillar of stoicism is a case in point as head of the stoic School in Athens he emphasized logic and ethics urging students to derive Confidence from knowledge and virtue rather than public opinion in doing so he laid down the foundation for a cont confidence that's both genuine and Lasting K the younger another prominent stoic often wore mismatched tunics in Rome a place where fashion was a reflection of status
when questioned about his attire he remarked that he wished to challenge societal norms and test his own sense of embarrassment through such deliberate actions he sought to reinforce his confidence by adhering to his beliefs irrespective of external judgments you see stoic confidence was also about embracing vulnerability acknowledging and accepting one's vulnerabilities and Imperfections is a testament to genuine confidence it's a recognition that while we might not be perfect we are genuine and authentic in our Pursuits another essential aspect was the stoics attitude toward failure they did not view failure as a reflection of their worth
but as an opportunity for growth they believed that setbacks and challenges were natural parts of human existence and offered valuable lessons for instance when Zeno of the founder of stoicism was Shipwrecked and lost everything he didn't despair instead he saw it as a fresh start famously saying Fortune has taken away my possessions but she has given me Zeno this incident led him to discover philosophy thus birthing stoicism confidence for the stoics was also about endurance they often Drew parallels between physical and mental endurance just as athletes train their bodies to withstand physical challenges stoics trained
their minds to withstand emotional and psychological challenges they practiced mental exercises known as premeditatio malorum the premeditation of evils this involved reflecting on potential negative events not to become pessimistic but to prepare the mind to inure it against the shocks of Life the stoics believed that by anticipating potential setbacks they could face any adversity with calmness and confidence digging deeper stoic writings frequently emphasize the impermanence of Life the idea that everything is in a state of flux understanding and accepting this was seen as a source of confidence why because when one internalizes the transient nature
of all things including one's own life one can focus on the present on action aligned with virtue and on responding to Life's challenges with Equanimity now on the Community Front the stoics also derived Confidence from their Community they believed in the concept of cosmopolitanism that all humans are citizens of the world this interconnectedness meant that they weren't alone in their Pursuits they drew strength from the collective wisdom of humanity leaning on the experiences of those who came before and those who walked alongside them in this they found a collective shared confidence knowing that while the
journey was individual the path was well trodden so how confident are you imagine for a moment that you're sitting with stoic philosophers at the Agora they loved posing reflective questions here are three questions the stoics might have asked themselves to gauge their confidence do I derive my selfworth from within or from external validations can I comfortably face uncertainty knowing I can't control everything but can control my response do I see challenges as obstacles or opportunities for growth these are questions for you and I to reflect on reflecting on stoic teachings let's remember that confidence is
not about appearing infallible or unshakable it's about possessing a deep understanding of oneself accepting life's changes and deriving strength from our principles and beliefs stoic confidence teaches us to be resilient to embrace challenges and to always seek growth it's about recognizing that our worth is not determined by external circumstances but by our internal beliefs and actions let's build a confidence that's not just skin deep but emanates from the very core of our being remember in the words of senica difficulties strengthen the mind as labor does the body Embrace challenges accept imperfections and find confidence in
the Journey of self-discovery and growth because after all true confidence like that of the stoics is not about Standing Tall in the face of Applause but about remaining unshaken in the midst of storms you know the beauty of stoic philosophy is that it always Sparks such thought-provoking conversations I'm curious to hear your takeaways from our chat today drop a comment below sharing what resonated with you the most and hey if you found this enlightening feel free to spread the wisdom by giving it a like and sharing with your friends let's keep this dialogue going by
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