Would you take a pill that already failed to stop your pain once? Then, what about changing your life philosophy that doesn’t bring you any joy? Ancient thinkers, such as Epicurus, believed that philosophy had to address human suffering.

Today, many people underestimate the value of a structured system or life philosophy. They instead settle for a “default” path that is a weird and bizarre mix of status and pleasure. This hedonistic lifestyle is often a waste of time because it creates a satisfying facade that ultimately leads to the pursuit of second-rate or valueless items.

The author, William B. Irvine, claims he was reluctant to explore Stoicism earlier. A significant obstacle to Stoicism is a set of controversial and dishonest misconceptions. Some claim that a Stoic is an emotionally repressed person who is seemingly indifferent to the world. The author admits he initially thought Stoics were trained to be unaffected by joy or grief. However, after his investigation, it turned out that almost everything he believed was inaccurate.

In fact, Stoics don’t deny all feelings. Their intention is specifically to regain control over negative emotions such as envy, anger, and anxiety. In the past, Stoics were acute observers of the mind. They used sophisticated techniques to extinguish disruptive feelings rather than let them become destructive. Be it in the past or today, practicing Stoic principles leads to genuine joy, issuing from deep within the soul.

Furthermore, Stoics were not passive survivors. They were fully engaged in life and tackled their obligations with courage and self-discipline. Take Marcus Aurelius, who was a competent leader and contributed to the common good, demonstrating that philosophy is not a waste of time.

Another important value of Stoicism is tranquility. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not an emotionless, zombie-like state, but one enriched with positive emotions. Stoicism teaches us to prevent negative emotions or reason them out of existence through analytical thinking. Though it may not lead to perfect tranquility, it makes life substantially more satisfying.