The Stoic Joy — The Joy That Really Counts Is Within
Happiness, as we know it, is the trap of our century. It’s like a sugar rush, a fleeting high that dissipates as quickly as it comes. Illusion, too, is a mirage that distracts us from the harsh realities of life. Passion, often mistaken for joy, can be a profitable business, a never-ending chase for a carrot we never quite reach. But what if we shift our perspective? What if we find pleasure in what we already have, in our actions? This is the essence of stoic joy, a profound state of being that leads to true fulfilment.
In the mouth of Seneca:
“Believe me, joy is something severe. Do you think that someone can easily despise death with an elegant expression? Or open the doors to poverty, keep pleasures in order or meditate on the harshness of suffering? He who is comfortable turning negative thoughts into positive ones is intoxicated with joy, but he is hardly emotionally animated. That is exactly the kind of joy I want you to reap, for you will never lose it because once you have reached its source, you will never be thirsty again.”
The Stoic Joy
According to Seneca, it is a profound state of being. It is what we feel inside us, and it has nothing to do with laughter or laughter. Who cares if someone is happy when times are good? It is easy to be satisfied when there is abundance, no diseases, or fortune smiles on us. Although that is not absolute joy, much less fulfilment, there is nothing to be calm about.
What kind of achievement is that?
However, do you think you can be happy with your life?
Can you, with bravery, confront the challenges that life presents to you each day? Can you navigate through adversity without losing your patience or losing sight of your path? And can you be a beacon of strength and inspiration to those around you? These are the qualities of stoic joy, the joy that comes from living a life of virtue and purpose.
That is Stoic joy, which comes from virtue and principles, purpose, excellence and responsibility. This is what we must practice daily, that joy that does not make you smile so much on the outside but a lot on the inside. That is knowing that you remain firm in virtue, values, and principles. That joy that makes you feel immovable.
