Apr 6, 2021
Finding Your Path with Stoicism
The Four Cs of Flourishing
On a rocky ridge near Athens — the ancestral home of Western philosophy in general and Stoic philosophy in particular — stands a lone olive tree, hunched into the wind but nevertheless tall, sturdy, and powerful. With its glossy sage-green leaves and deeply grooved trunk, the tree looks as if it has stood there forever. It’s easy to imagine ancient Greek philosophers strolling beneath its shade as they discourse on those famously insoluble topics: What is courage, or perhaps love? What is the best way to live? How do we live with others in a community? What does it mean to be happy?
Millennia later, we are still looking up at the olive tree and asking ourselves those same questions. Now, as then, we take inspiration from the natural world and from the sages who have tried to answer those questions before us. The hardy olive tree remains a symbol to us of endurance, strength, and flourishing against the odds. Even when there are no other trees around, even when conditions seem too harsh to support such a profusely leafy plant, the rugged olive manages to establish itself in the sunshine, grow to maturity, and thrive in craggy soil. And, as the Roman Stoic Seneca points out, the more wind the sapling faces, the stronger it becomes. Trees that face the most resistance become more robust and deeply rooted.
Like the olive tree, each one of us faces wind, draught, and poor soil at some point in our lives. And, like the olive, each of these challenges simply makes us tougher, more deeply rooted, and better able to withstand the turbulent winds of life. So much so, in fact, that we may find ourselves flourishing even in the roughest conditions. Regardless of the conditions around us — hardship, illness, accident, loss, betrayal — we can all learn to thrive where we are.
The 4 Cs of Flourishing
Stoicism provides a masterclass in flourishing right where you are. The deep, rich contentment that comes with a life well lived is available to everyone, if you know where to look. The ancient Greeks called this sort of flourishing eudaimonia, meaning a good spirit or a good state of mind. Today we are more likely to call it happiness. Stoic philosophy teaches us that we will be happy if we learn to choose excellence of spirit (called virtue) over material possessions and external recognition. This path to flourishing, though long and winding, is open to all.
As you make the journey — whether your path leads beneath olives, oaks, or acacia — you will need some guidelines to keep in mind, some pointers to hold on to when the going gets tough. The ancient Stoics recognized the power of a simple formula to crystallize our abstract goals into concrete action. So when you’re faced with a challenge, think about this simple equation for holding fast to your Stoic path:
character + cosmos + control = choice
These 4 Cs of flourishing will help you think through your challenges and make the right decision. Let’s look more closely at each component of the 4 Cs.
Character
As the ancient Stoics remind us, it’s not the circumstances of your life that make you happy, but the choices you make in response to those circumstances. You always have a choice: will you focus on being a good person and doing what is within your control, or will you get upset over things you can’t control and thereby ruin your character? The actions you take should always reflect the kind of person you want to be. Remember, your happiness comes from your good spirit — your inner character and your responses to the world.
Cosmos
An excellent response to the world will require thinking about the big picture, or what the ancient Greeks called the cosmos. We are not isolated individuals but members of a larger human community, which in turn is embedded within an incredibly beautiful planet and an astoundingly complex universe. Each of our individual actions is a part of this great cosmic tapestry, and each one of us is a small but very important member of this larger community. When we stop and consider that our own path intersects with the paths of many other people, we may find it easier to get outside ourselves and see things from a different point of view. Thinking about our place in the cosmos — both the natural world and the human community — can help us face our challenges with a renewed sense of perspective.
Control
And when it comes to making a good choice, the Stoic dichotomy of control is one of the most useful tools out there. No matter what situation you face, you will never go wrong by asking yourself, “What part of this situation are up to me? What parts are not up to me?” In most cases, the only element that is truly within your control is your own character and response to the situation. You may be able to influence other elements, but they are not truly within your control. Remember, it’s appropriate to do what you can, but don’t expect to control things that are actually not within your sphere of choice.
Choice
As you consider the proper course of action, your choice rests on how you see your character, your place in the cosmos, and the dichotomy of control. These three elements will help you decide how to move forward. If you stay focused on character, cosmos, and control, you will make a good choice. Remember that no one is perfect, and we can’t know everything in advance. All we can do is make the best decision available to us at the time. In other words, we can provide the best response to whatever circumstances we face in life — we can thrive wherever we are.
Your Path to Flourishing
Walking the Stoic path is up to you. There may be times when you wonder if it’s the right path for you, or if you know where you’re going and how to get there. These are all good questions — keep asking them! Stoic philosophy will be your guide, but it’s up to you to apply it in your life. Everyone’s path is unique, imprinted with the special spirit and circumstances of an individual life. And yet together our paths tell a story of our deeply human capacity to flourish. Our ability to dig deeper, to find what matters, and to share the fruits of our labor with others, is what enables us to thrive right where we are.
Here’s one final thought about flourishing, from a man who faced more challenges in life than most of us could ever imagine, including slavery, exile, and a lifelong physical disability. Yet he became one of the greatest philosophical teachers of all time, and his words continue to inspire us today. So what does Epictetus have to say about flourishing?
Nothing great comes into being all at once, for that is not the case even with a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me now, ‘I want a fig,’ I’ll reply, ‘That takes time.’ Let the fig tree first come into blossom and then bring forth its fruit, and then let the fruit grow to ripeness. So even if the fruit of a fig tree doesn’t come to maturity all at once and in a single hour, would you seek to gather the fruit of a human mind in such a short time and with such ease? (Discourses, 1.15, 8)
Take your time, keep growing, and remember that sturdy plants grow up amidst strong winds. Follow your path and in time you, too, will gather the fruit of a life well lived.
