Stoic wisdom to pull you through the pandemic

Stoicism is often defined by two fundamental ideas. Firstly, a person must differentiate between what they can and cannot control. Secondly, the key to happiness does not come from external things. In other words, to live a truly Stoic life, a person must accept the world as it is.

Our world is facing the biggest global crisis since World War II, and the worst worldwide pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918. Because of the coronavirus epidemic, many things are undoubtedly out of our control; across the globe, we can no longer go out whenever we want or even buy all of the things we need as panicked people try to hoard supplies. Yet despite all the disadvantages of living with the threat of COVID-19, this pandemic grants us the perfect opportunity to apply Stoic philosophy to our everyday lives.

There are actions we can all take that can help slow the spread of the virus, flatten the curve, and ease the burden on overworked health professionals. This can be achieved by individual choices, such as covering your mouth when you sneeze, avoiding large public gatherings, and thinking of other people’s welfare. And by applying these age-old principles, we may rid ourselves of fear. Our fear of the coronavirus might be more damaging to our welfare than the virus itself.

Below, are some steps which have the potential to keep you physically and mentally healthy.

How Can We Apply Stoic Wisdom To This Crisis?

Follow Social Distancing Rules

Humans are, by nature, social animals. Nevertheless, we must all implement social distancing, even if that means having to skip parties or other enticing social events. Where possible, work from home and communicate as much as possible through online applications, like Skype or Google Hangout. If you own a shop, limit the number of customers at a single time. In short: do not prioritize entertainment or company profits over the public’s welfare.

Or to follow Epictetus’ thinking, being a Stoic is to know life is preferable to death. Avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Wash Your Hands And Create New Habits

According to one study, we touch our faces on average 23 times an hour.^[1] Breaking this unconscious habit is a challenge, but the reality of COVID-19 makes it a must. In addition, we should wash our hands frequently – especially before meals – and cough into a tissue or our elbow. There are other actions, also done unthinkingly, that we should try to limit. Do not shake hands with the people you meet, and press lift buttons with knuckles instead of fingers.

In the words of Marcus Aurelius, the last great emperor of Rome, what is good for the bee is good for the beehive. By protecting ourselves, we can protect everybody else.

Help Others

Amid the reports of rising death tolls and ventilator shortages, good news occasionally rears its head. In Italy and Spain, people gather at windows and balconies to applaud the heroic efforts of health workers stuck in overcrowded hospitals. In another example, the Chinese Government sent face masks to Italy, where the virus has arguably hit the hardest. On each face mask, a Stoic phrase could be found: ‘we are the waves of the same sea’.^[2] Be inspired to help anyone who requires it. For instance, if an elderly neighbour cannot go to the shop, try and get them what they need.

Stay Away From Vulnerable Friends and Family

Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are less likely to recover from it. Naturally, this stark reality makes us worry about elderly relatives. It is very important, however, to resist the urge to go and see them. If you are young and healthy, you can still be carrying the virus and exposing your older loved ones to infection. Be strong, stay home and call them instead.

Handling Loss

Unfortunately, many people have died from the coronavirus. For a Stoic, mortality is just another factor outside of our control, part of the natural order of things, to paraphrase once more the words of Marcus Aurelius. Death is a universal truth, but perhaps one of the most difficult to accept.

Make The Best Of The Situation

Stoicism can be traced back Zeno, a Greek physician who survived a shipwreck and the loss of his life’s work. He reacted to both these tragedies with acceptance and grace and subsequently created this brand of philosophy. And while we cannot control how long we are confined to our homes, we can choose to use our time fruitfully. Through a dedication to work, study or exercise, we can become better people by the time the quarantine ends.

Education and calm

Education has two primary benefits: you can remain calm with greater information, thus lessening the likelihood of spreading fake news, which can distress other people. If you can maintain control and keep calm, this situation can be improved, and we can develop a greater capacity for kindness. Worry blocks us from cherishing the people we love and from helping those in need.

Seneca, another great Stoic thinker, wrote that keeping safe does not mean burying yourself. Stoicism dictates that we can accept that we will either avoid COVID-19 or contract it. If we contract it, we can recover or not. Stoicism is about learning to have the courage to accept any outcome.

We are only human, of course. So, implementing this step can be especially difficult. Seneca took our imperfections into account when he wrote that people do not need to be perfect. They only need to have the desire to be on the journey toward greater acceptance of issues which cannot be controlled. Trying to live like a Stoic, even if we do not fully succeed, may help us live more meaningful lives during this pandemic.

Final words

Living in a world stuck in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic is not easy. Accordingly, Stoicism tries to impart big lessons about courage, and it does take courage to live Stoically, to adopt the measures outlined in the preceding paragraphs.

Try to apply what you can from this timeless philosophy, try to spread calm rather than worry or the coronavirus, and stay safe.