The Stoicism Paradox
Control is never given, always taken.
Marcus Aurelius, despite the empire he handed off less judiciously to his son, left us one undeniably powerful inheritance: Stoicism.
The core of Stoic philosophy is deceptively simple – focus only on what you can control.
Sure, it’s practical. You can’t influence the weather, so why lose sleep over a forecast of rain? But this outlook, while liberating, is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to living a driven life.
Iif you follow Stoicism to the letter, you might find yourself passively accepting your sphere of influence without question. However, the essence of human spirit and ambition is not just about maintaining control, but expanding it. It’s about enlarging your dominion over your world, increasing your stakes, your responsibilities, and yes, your worries.
Being stoic when your domain is small is one thing; applying it when you’re at the helm of vast enterprises, or even just your personal career zenith, is quite another. The journey from a passive participant in life to a proactive architect of your own destiny is fraught with the kind of fiery trials that Stoicism might urge you to avoid: risk, folly, late nights, and leaps of faith.
