More than 2000 years ago, the Roman Emperor /philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote a reminder to himself in a book of personal thoughts he could refer to in order to live a better life. He wrote, 

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” 

He also wrote,

“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” 

He called this journal of thoughts his Meditations. 

Welcome to The Soul Podcast. I'm Stacey Wheeler.

Today we’re diving into a heavy but crucial topic: the mental health crisis affecting North America and other areas of the world. If you’ve dealt with depression or anxiety – or know someone who has- this episode is for you. There’s a rise in anxiety disorders, depression, despair, and tragically, suicide. There doesn’t appear to be a single cause—but rather, linked to many factors. These include: environment fears, the eroding political systems, and (perhaps most significantly) what John Vervaeke calls "The Meaning Crisis." If you're feeling that pervasive sense of disconnection creeping into your life, you're not alone. Many of us are caught in this meaning crisis, left feeling like we're adrift in a vast ocean of confusion and despair—powerless and directionless. If this resonates with you, you're in the right place. In today's episode, we're diving into a powerful tool that many are using to reclaim their sense of purpose and take back control of their lives. Stay tuned, because this could be the key to finding your way again.

So, why is the meaning crisis happening? And more importantly, what can we do about it?

There’s an increasing feeling of disconnection—people feeling estranged from themselves, from each other, and from the world. Many people today are so overwhelmed by conditions -they feel are beyond their control, that they struggle to see a viable future. Getting out of this mess isn’t going to be easy. It’s going to demand deep, significant changes in how we think, how we live, and how we connect with our communities. And though our circumstances may leave us feeling powerless, we all hold one great power we often neglect… our way of thinking. 

There’s a philosophy that emerged around 300 BC and became widely adopted in ancient Greece and Rome. It is known as Stoicism. And Stoicism is making a comeback in a big way. There are countless webpages and videos on the topic as well as podcasts. There are no official numbers but more and more people each day are starting to identify as Stoics. So, why is a 2000-year-old philosophy returning in the modern world? As it turns out, Stoicism is an antidote to the meaning crisis. 

We’ll come back to that. First - let’s look at what stoicism is. 

Stoicism was founded by Zeno of Citium. Over the next few hundred years, this school of philosophy found its way into the great empires of the world. It was practiced by the most prominent men of the age, including Emperor Marcus Aurelius.  The philosophy profoundly shaped the lives of its practitioners. Because many of them were influential men, it also shaped the cultures they lived in.

Stoicism was a powerful force in culture and politics for more than 600 years. Its influence slowly declined in the late Roman Empire (around the 3rd century AD.) This was primarily due to the rise of Christianity and political changes. Christianity eventually became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire, and it offered a new worldview that answered many of the meaning of life questions Stoicism had. Though Christianity provided a different framework for understanding life and morality. And this is important. 

You see, people didn’t walk away from having a personal philosophy of life. They slowly embraced another. And this wasn’t by chance. Because, you see… having a framework for living is a reflexive human response. 

So, let’s talk about Abraham Maslow’s theory of human motivation. You see, Maslow suggested that once our basic physiological and safety needs are taken care of, we start seeking higher-level needs like belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. These aren’t just fancy terms; they reflect our deep desire to find meaning and purpose in life. And how do we achieve that? Through a structured framework that guides us and gives us a sense of direction. 

Simply stated - Without a personal philosophy we suffer from lack of meaning. Religion is in decline across the world. I spoke about this last season in the episode Spirituality is Growing, as well as What is the Great Emergence. One of the positive things that religion provides is a framework to live by. As people leave the churches, temples and synagogues… many of them are finding lack of meaning. This lack of meaning is especially common in those who’ve never belonged to an organized religion -which is more common now than ever. In not embracing a religious framework to live by, people find themselves instead finding other life philosophies. And that is where Stoicism comes into the picture. 

Great ideas never die; they always return when the moment is right. Stoicism is one of those great ideas.

Despite its decline, it’s important to note that Stoicism never completely disappeared. Elements have remained, which have influenced the formation of the western legal system and other aspects of our cultures. Though it slowly faded, it continued to impact thinkers throughout the Renaissance and Enlightenment. As an example, Stoicism greatly influenced the works of Francis Bacon in the late 16th and early 17th century. 

It also influenced the philosophical thoughts of Immanuel Kant in the 18th century. And it continued on… influencing Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau's writings, especially "Walden," show strong Stoic influences in their emphasis on simplicity and inner virtue.

So, back to why it is making a powerful comeback…

The core belief of the Stoics is that living a virtuous life is the key to achieving a well-lived and fulfilling life. Stoics taught that the path to this ideal state is through the daily practice of four cardinal virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance (or moderation), and justice. These virtues guide us to live in harmony with nature and with our own true selves. As an example of the way of stoic thinking, here are a few classic Stoic quotes:

Marcus Aurelius said, “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”

This speaks to the importance of control and acceptance.

Seneca said, “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.”

This relates to adversity and personal resilience.

And Friedrich Nietzsche, who was influenced by Stoicism wrote, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” 

This quote is especially powerful because it speaks directly to the crisis of meaning. When we lack a why we struggle to understand how we move forward. No meaning leads to no purpose.  And no purpose leads directly to depression, anxiety and despair. 

When we lack meaning, we must find a way to add it to our lives.

Many are embracing Stoicism because it provides a sense of control. The world has become chaotic since 2019. There are many factors -much of it related to pandemic and politics- which have left many (if not most) of us feeling frustrated, powerless… or worse. So many are turning to the one thing we truly can control. Ourselves!  Stoicism is a good framework for doing that.

Its four key virtues: wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice encourage Stoics to live in tune with nature and reason, and focusing on what we can control while accepting what we can't, leads to a happy and more meaningful life. Meaningful. That’s the key! Without meaning we suffer. But when we add a daily dose of meaning, it is a game-changer. Simply having a framework to live your life by and tools to train your thinking… depression and anxiety are reduced. 

Maslow wrote,

"It is as if Freud supplied us the sick half of psychology and we must now fill it out with the healthy half."

To overcome our neuroses, we must add meaning. When we do, we become more powerful in how we move through the world. This is because we have taken responsibility for ourselves, rather than waiting on the world to make things right. 

The wisdom of Stoicism encourages us to seek knowledge and understanding. Courage asks us to face adversity with strength. Temperance teaches us to find balance and moderation, and justice urges us to act fairly and honorably. Living a Stoic life is about integrating these virtues into our everyday actions and decisions, finding balance, and facing challenges with a clear, rational mind. And for the spiritual among us there is a healthy and helpful overlap with spiritual philosophies. 

For instance, I use many Buddhist principals in my life. Some of these align with the Stoics.

Let’s consider The Present Moment for instance.

Stoics advocate for living in the present moment, emphasizing that we should not be overly concerned with the past or future, as these are beyond our control. 

In Buddhism, mindfulness (or sati) is a core practice involving full attention to the present moment without judgment. This practice helps individuals develop awareness and clarity, reducing suffering. 

Now consider Control and Detachment:

Stoics teach the importance of distinguishing between what we can control (our actions and responses) and what we cannot control (external events, other people's actions). They advocate for emotional detachment from things beyond our control.

Similar to Stoicism, Buddhists practice detachment from desires and outcomes to reduce suffering and achieve a state of equanimity.

Now consider Virtue and Ethical Living:

Stoicism places a strong emphasis on living a virtuous life, guided by four cardinal virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. Virtue is seen as the highest good and the key to a fulfilling life.

And The Noble Eightfold Path in Buddhism outlines ethical and virtuous living, which are a framework to cultivate moral conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom.

And finally, let’s consider Inner Peace and Resilience:

Stoics aim to achieve inner peace and resilience by practicing rationality and virtue. They believe that a calm and tranquil mind can be maintained even in the face of adversity.

In Buddhism, we’re encouraged to cultivate inner peace through meditation and mindfulness practices. The ultimate goal is to achieve a state of liberation and freedom from suffering. 

So, both Stoicism and Buddhism offer frameworks for achieving a balanced, peaceful, and meaningful life by focusing on what we can control, accepting impermanence, practicing virtue and ethical conduct, and maintaining mindfulness and detachment. Despite their different origins, these practices share common philosophies in their practical approaches to human well-being.

As I mentioned, many who lean towards Stoicism are those who prefer a framework for life with no religion attached to it. And Stoicism need not have religious overtones, unless you choose to insert them yourself. 

Whether you lean towards Stoicism or Buddhism… or another philosophy, having a personal philosophy and way of living can be and antidote to the sense of powerlessness many of us feel today. 

If you want to explore stoicism, there are some great FREE resources I’ll share some in the show notes. These include:

"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius, which offers profound insights into Stoic philosophy and practical wisdom for daily life. I’ll also share links to a video or two, which will provide a practical way to approach Stoicism, as well as a link to a podcast called Stoic Coffee Break. If you do nothing more than listen to that podcast, you will find results.  

Seneca said, "Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing." 

If you’re ready to take small steps to reclaiming your personal power, you’ll find links below.