How to Curb Your Anger, Like a Stoic

Create a gap between the stimulus and response

Thomas Oppong
Mind Cafe
Published in
4 min readMay 16, 2023

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Photo: Editorial rights purchased via Freepik

“Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.” — Seneca, a Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome

Anger, in any form, can get the best of us.

It can damage our relationships, career, and even our health.

Stoicism, a philosophical school of thought emphasising personal virtue, self-control, and inner strength can curb your emotions and frustrations.

Maintaining calm, even in the most frustrating situations, is a superpower.

The Stoics believed that anger is a destructive emotion that should be avoided at all costs.

They observed that we can live a more fulfilling and peaceful life by controlling our emotions.

The Stoicism approach to anger can help you shift your focus from the external factors causing your anger to your internal reactions and responses.

So, how can we apply Stoic philosophy to our daily lives to curb our anger?

Identify your triggers

“No man is free who is not master of…

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Thomas Oppong
Mind Cafe

Making the wisdom of great thinkers instantly accessible. As seen on Forbes, Inc. and Business Insider. For my popular essays, go here: https://thomasoppong.com