Whether we accept it or not, our philosophy of life influences everything we do from our daily choices to setting and mastering our goals.

There are two ancient Greece contrasting schools of thought that offer us insightful approaches to how we can view the world and manage our lives.

First is Epicureanism, founded by Epicurus in the 4th century BCE. At its core, Epicureanism is about the seeking pleasure and the avoidance of pain. He taught that the highest form of pleasure is the absence of physical pain and mental distress, he called this "ataraxia."

This state of “serene contentment” is achieved not through excess but through moderation, friendship, and the cultivation of simple pleasures of life.

The Epicureans believed that by understanding the nature of the world, specifically through the study of physics and the natural order of life, we could eliminate our irrational fears – especially the fear of death, and so live a more fulfilling life.

Now, I find his philosophy a bit complicated and off putting for me to embrace.

By contrast, I lean toward Stoicism. Founded by Zeno of Citium in the 3rd century BCE. It teaches us that the key to a good life is not the pursuit of pleasure but the development of virtue and wisdom.

Stoicism emphasizes the importance of inner strength, self-discipline, and resilience in the face of adversity. We cannot control external events, but we can control our responses to those events!

The Stoic ideal is that we should remain unaffected by external circumstances, whether they bring us pleasure or pain, and focus instead on developing our inner qualities of courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom.

This is high level consciousness thinking and an ongoing struggle for me. But I work at it daily.

They teach that true happiness comes from within ourselves and that we gain inner tranquility, or "apatheia," by accepting the world as it is and focusing on what is within our own control to manage.

Now that’s an approach to life that I embrace!

Epicureanism and Stoicism offer different prescriptions for a “good life.” Both philosophies address our fundamental concerns about happiness, suffering, and the meaning of life.

They both give us frameworks to reflect on our own beliefs and behaviors and allow us to be intentional in how we choose to approach our lives.

Whether we align more with the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain, as in Epicureanism, or with the cultivation of virtue and resilience, as in Stoicism, both philosophies underscore the importance of having a philosophy of life that shapes how we see life and participate in life.

We get to analyze ourselves in light of this knowledge and make an informed decision as to whch philosophy of life we will embrace.

That’s the benefit of being a lifelong learner!

In Summary

Remember...we all have a philosophy of life, even if we are not fully aware of it. That philosophy shapes how we view the world and how we live our lives.

Examine and compare different philosophies, such as Epicureanism and Stoicism.

Gain a deeper understanding of your own values and beliefs, and even make changes when we discover we need to. Being this constant lifelong learner leads us to a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

Now identify your philosophy of life.

Adjust it, if you need to.

Now get to work making your difference in this world...using your philosophy of life as your motivational guide!