We live in a distracting world with pressures always acting upon us and the leeway to sometimes doubting our initial decisions, so it takes strength of willpower not only making those hard choices but also sticking by them. The ancient philosophy of Stoicism has a lot to teach us in this area — and its wisdom is as relevant today, 2000 years later. In this article, we dig into Stoic philosophy to explain how the principles can reinforce your commitment making it easier to stick by your decisions and ensure those choices are grounded in the things important to you.
1. Clarify Your Core Values
But the base of effective resoluteness is in understanding your true core values. According to the Stoics, living a virtuous life is the only good we can do and all our choices should be in line with this pursuit of virtue. So, what does this practically mean? Simply put, it means figuring out what your key principles are; integrity, honesty courage and wisdom to name just four.
And because your decisions are an extension of these core values, you can easily stand by them even when opposing forces run rampant. Do this by taking some time to reflect on what is most important for you. What is the type of person you wish to be? In a scenario like that, what are the principles I will NEVER waver on no matter WHAT happens? The first step is to be clear about your values, so that you can judge which of whatever alternatives in life come across them. Stand firm but make sure, there are things much more important than just being right. Otherwise, perhaps it should be reconsidered.
2. Adopt the Willpower Discipline
Willpower is an essential element of Stoic fortitude. To Stoics, real freedom is inside-based and a quintessential part of this inner liberation (freedom) dues to the possibility for us as an individual free men—-and women——to control our will. Willpower is your ability to stick with a decision, even when something tempting or difficult happens. Willpower is something that grows the more you practice and use it, just like a muscle.
Begin to experiment with your willpower by taking on small challenges that you must stay committed in making a decision. It could also be as basic as developing habits, or it may influence the way someone thinks about a larger goal. Every time you force yourself not to buckle down, your willpower expands. The Stoics often did things that were uncomfortable intentionally — voluntary discomfort, as a way to try and gain mental fortitude. You can also find new ways to push yourself, either with exercise or work habits, even fasting. Practice making a choice, and KEEP TO THAT CHOICE — when it is hard or inconvenient.
3. Detach from the Outcome
This is one of the greatest truths uncovered by Stoicism: Detachment from the outcome. The position of the Stoics was that our choices and actions belong to us, but not their out-comes. Which is not to say we should be complacent about the outcome, but neither must fear dissuade our commitment.
So when you have to choose, avoid alternative kernels and concentrate on the quality of action that will be right for both yourself and a human. When you direct your attention to the process, it liberates yourself from any worries and stress that burden anxiety due to things not in line with appropriate. This shift in your thinking frees you up to stand strong on any of the choices, knowing that there was no way ever only one true path and believing everything is truth. The result — good or bad – is secondary. Most importantly, you remained honest to who YOU are and how YOUR morals align with your path.
4. Be Your Own Support System; Not an Accessory
It is easy, in a world like this today, to get caught up with what others have got or are doing and allow their perspective of ourselves determine the choices that we make. Instead, the Stoics tell us that happiness comes from within. If you decide something, it should be based on your values and principles rather than to seek pleasure or satisfaction of others.
If you would like to work on self-approval, start by meditating and being kinder with yourself. Timely self-reflection will confirm that your choices are congruent with being in concert with yourself and not some other's projected or externalized version of you. If you are confidence in the choices made by your own judgment, it becomes secondary for external justification. Because remember, as a Stoic we strive be self-sufficient in our happiness — even if nobody noticed that the emperor wore no clothes on his balcony.
5. Learn About Rejection and Take Criticism
Being bold in the decisions you make does not equate to being stubborn, nor closed-minded. The Stoics put a great deal of importance in wisdom and growing as an individual, by seeing that every piece (positive or negative) would help us understand criticism is valuable for our development. But there is a difference between constructive criticism and unsolicited judgement. We should embrace the former as a chance to evaluate our choices and learn from them, but in other cases it can be swept away if we decide that conflicts with something else dearer or simply does not fit into what seems reasonable.
If you want to rethink how criticism is best digested, listen humbly and with an open mind. And whether the feedback is true and will help you grow as a human being? If it doesnt, be open to changing directions — but not throwing away your core values as a result. If it doesn't, then be firm and know that not everyone's opinion is worth your time. In Stoicism, the balance holds in making your choices and learning yet not clinging while driving head long into regret.
Conclusion
Loyalty to your decision is not a way of being remorseless or obstinate; it's about living by loyal integrity, developing devotion in accordance with your principles and forgoing the urge to look towards outworldly Divine right. Stoicism provides us with a time-tested source of wisdom that we can rely upon to guide us through the trials and tribulations on our pilgrimage before eternity. When you live by these principles, you grow an inflexible will that provides the strength to make choices in faith and stick to them through any of what life may force upon your path.