How Some Ancient Words of Stoic Wisdom Can Help Us Get Through COVID-19
COVID-19 has turned our world upside-down. Everything is different — work from home, social distancing, stay at home orders, worrying about the health of ourselves and our loved ones. It is incredible how much our lives have changed in a few short weeks.
We are constantly being barraged with alarming and changing information. The twenty-four hour news cycle, new orders from governors, growing numbers of infected and dying. It is enough to leave us feeling, stressed, anxious, and even fearful — if we let it.
Yes, we do have a choice of how we respond to COVID-19 and how it effects our lives. It is completely understandable, and even natural, to be scared right now. We are in uncharted waters, dealing with a global pandemic and circumstances that none of us have ever had to face. Front line healthcare workers are literally putting their lives on the line every day to care for patients suffering from COVID-19. But there are are techniques and practices that can help us combat feelings of fear and uncertainty we may be experiencing.
A practice that I have been turning to lately is Stoicism.
What is Stoicism? It is a school of philosophy founded in the 3rd century, B.C. According to it’s teachings; happiness and tranquility could be gained through accepting the present moment exactly as it is, understanding what is under our control (and what is not), and using one’s mind to objectively look at the world and our place in it.
Those who practiced Stoicism, or Stoics, focused on leading tranquil lives and strengthening their will through beliefs and practices that helped them cultivate a peaceful mind. The writings of Stoic philosophers, passed down through the years, provide sound advice to help us through these troubling times.
Of the Stoic philosophers, Marcus Aurelius is my personal favorite. Marcus was a Roman emperor, known as the last of the “Five Good Emperors” of Rome. Here is a guy that during his time was arguably the most powerful man on the planet, even looked upon as a god. Instead of letting all that power go to his head and corrupting him, Marcus practiced Stoicism to help him maintain his discipline and character.
Marcus ruled Rome through troubling times of warfare, famine, and plague. Through all this, he practiced Stoicism and regularly wrote of Stoic principles in his own personal journal. These writings later became known as the Meditations and are one of the most significant sources of ancient Stoic philosophy. Reading a 2,000+ year old journal of a dusty old Roman emperor may not sound too interesting. But it is really incredible how timeless Marcus’ writings are, and how much they can help us today.
Marcus has several excellent quotes in the Meditations, but there is one that really stands out to me and I have been reflecting on through these challenging times:
“Objective judgment now at this very moment. Unselfish action, now at this very moment. Willing acceptance, now at this very moment. Of all external events. That’s all you need.”
This quote calls out three specific disciplines we can follow to help us through this public health crisis: Objective Judgement, Unselfish Action, and Willing Acceptance. Let’s explore each one a little further.
Objective Judgement
Events themselves do not harm us. It is our perception of them, our opinion of them, that cause us emotional distress. However, if we strip away our perceptions, and look at events as they really are, we can lessen the emotional strain they put on us. Now, more than ever, is the time for cool-headed objectivity. We must view events as they really are. based on factual evidence, to maintain as much tranquility as possible.
First thing to do…stop watching the news! Watching CNN 24 hours a day is going to do nothing for your peace of mind. Stop listening to what all the talking heads are saying. Instead, check in with a trusted (and objective) source, like the CDC once a day, or even once a week, for your COVID-19 news and updates.
Yes, COVID-19 is a deadly disease, and yes it is a real danger, but we can choose to turn fear into an objective and healthy respect. Objectively, we know that if we follow recommended protective measure of social distancing and frequent hand-washing, our chances of contracting COVID-19 are greatly reduced. Follow best practices, look at facts and not opinions — be objective.
Another Marcus quote that helps me to view things objectively:
“Choose not to be harmed–and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed–and you haven’t been.”
Unselfish Action
One reason we may feel overly anxious during COVID-19 is that we may be focusing too much on ourselves. Again, this is natural, and even healthy to be concerned about our well-being. But concern can turn to obsessiveness and too much time worrying about health can turn to anxiety.
One way to alleviate this anxiety is to make sure you are keeping your focus on others, and how you can be of assistance to them during this time. Do something special with your spouse or children, call a friend or family member, help a co-worker, do anything that takes you out of your own head and puts your focus on helping someone else, unselfishly.
Another Marcus quote I like to reflect on when I am becoming too self-absorbed:
“No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be good. Like gold or emerald or purple repeating to itself, ‘No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be emerald, my color undiminished.'”
Willing Acceptance
One of the core teachings of Stoicism is understanding what is under our control, and what is not. The things that are under our control, we should act on and influence. The things that are not under our control we should accept with grace, dignity, and even love.
There are things that are under out control. We can focus on the health of ourselves and loved ones by following best practices: washing hands, social distancing, staying at home whenever possible. These are the things that our time and energy should be spent on.
The fact that we are in the midst of a global pandemic is out of our control. We have to accept COVID-19, we cannot struggle with it, fight it, and wish it away. It is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future until a vaccine is developed. If we get creative, we may even find “silver linings”: more time with our family, more time to read, to exercise, to reflect, to pick up a new hobby.
A short, but powerful quote from Marcus that helps me when I am not accepting the circumstances of my life:
“To welcome with affection what is sent by fate.”
So, there you have it. Some wisdom from Marcus Aurelius that can help us get through COVID-19 with a little less stress and anxiety. Try to follow the advice of Marcus and the ancient Stoics and practice a little more objectivity, unselfishness, and acceptance — this is a great formula to help us maintain our peace and tranquility during COVID-19.
A special thank you to all the front line healthcare workers who are putting their personal health on the line every day to care for COVID-19 patients; you are all a shining example of unselfish action.
Take care and stay well.
