Stoicism in 2020

To be a stoic is to be calm and controlled in the face of adversity. 2020 has been a challenge to near everyone in the world. There has been disease, misfortune, and death in every corner of society. Institutions have crumbled and businesses have shuttered. People are suffering. With all this destruction around, how does one respond? Moreover, how does a Stoic respond? A stoic takes every challenge they face as an opportunity to observe and be present. These events are not good or bad in themselves. Quite simply, these events have occurred in the natural order of life. This is nature’s plan and a stoic must do one’s part in this plan to maintain balance in the universe. This allows the stoic to respond to such events with both a sense of calmness and powerful dexterity. There are no surprises. The stoic’s response avoids destructive tendencies and behaviors and allows for ultimate clarity in decision-making. This clarity empowers the stoic to take seemingly “bad” events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and manufacture opportunities from them and within them. Therefore, the universe is happy and so is the stoic.