A merchant’s ship sinks, and he loses everything he owns. It’s a tremendous disaster for him, as the ship carried all his hopes and wealth. This was the experience that led Zeno of Citium to discover Stoicism. For Zeno, this was not the end of the world. Although he had lost everything, it was beyond his control. What mattered, according to Stoicism, was how he responded to the situation. By accepting what was beyond his control, he maintained his inner peace. Later, he put it into words: ‘I made a prosperous voyage when I suffered shipwreck.’ I believe adopting this mindset can be incredibly helpful in overcoming the difficult events we face.
There is only one way to find peace: to stop worrying about what is beyond our control. When horrible events occur, we can see it as Seneca did: ‘Disaster is virtue’s opportunity.’ No matter how difficult the situation may seem, our strength lies in how we respond. Instead of dwelling on what holds us back, we can focus on growth and learning. Rather than being consumed by unnecessary worries, we should lead our energy to what truly matters for us. Living virtuously is at the core of Stoicism. We should act quickly to reach the virtuous life. Time diminishes our ability to understand, so we must be mindful of how we spend it. Life’s challenges are not obstacles; they are the path to ultimate inner peace.
