Great Thinkers

Great Thinkers shows how much of what’s truly important in life can be solved by the wisdom left behind by brilliant minds from long past.

Great stoic philosophers dating back to ancient Greece and Rome at around the third century BC., believed that it was senseless getting emotionally caught up in life’s many ups and downs. Men like Seneca the Younger and Emperor Marcus Aurelius believed that one true source of pleasure in life is virtue.

Curbing anxiety is only one of the many benefits where the stoic practice has proved beneficial. They believe that anxiety can develop as a result of two possible outlooks – harboring great fears about what might occur, or having very high hopes for things that might not come to pass.

Stressing about an upcoming presentation or public speech or maybe the fear of blowing it, losing your job and ending up homeless could be causes for great anxiety.

The stoics might recommend that you embrace your fears head-on. Maybe get a taste of the homeless experience by spending a few days eating very little and sleeping outdoors on a bench. Once you are familiar with the worst-case scenario, the prospect of homelessness might not be as scary.

Stoics also believe in not blaming yourself when something doesn’t work out. And by the same token, it will keep you from getting a big head when things align in a good way for you.

The Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu is believed to have lived during the sixth century BC.

There’s a popular story surrounding Lao Tzu putting him alongside such greats as Confucius and Buddha at a vinegar sampling ceremony. Confucius’ thinking that people are corrupt, found the vinegar sour. Buddha focused on the world’s suffering, he found it bitter. Lao Tzu found that the vinegar was sweet!

This reflects Lao Tzu’s core teachings, that life can indeed be sweet if you follow the natural flow. He compares life to a body of water. It’s often chaotic on the surface, yet underneath there exists a beautiful world of peace and harmony.

Lao Tzu teaches that nature has its own pace that we should follow, rather than resist. He believes in the Taoist philosophy that everything will come at its own time – there’s no point in forcing things.

Unless you want a life full of stress and strain, it’s better to surrender to the rhythm of life and let things happen in their own natural course. And let things take as long as they need to without forcing them.