STOICISM AT THE TURN OF THE YEAR: HOW TO FACE THE IMPOSSIBLE AND LIVE WITH PURPOSE
As 2024 comes to a close, many of us are challenged to reflect on what we’ve achieved, the difficulties we’ve faced, and what lies ahead in the coming year. And among the many questions that arise during this transition period, one seems to stand out: how can we live a fulfilling life, even in the face of adversities beyond our control?
In this context, Stoicism, a philosophy that emerged in ancient Greece around 300 B.C. with Zeno of Citium, offers answers that transcend the centuries. Founded in the Stoa Poikile (Painted Porch) in Athens, Stoicism proposes a way of life that goes beyond the pursuit of pleasure or material comfort. For philosophers like Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca, the key to a more serene life lies not in the constant struggle against what we cannot change, but in the art of discerning what is within our control and what is not.
As we transition from 2024 to 2025, the reflection on control is more relevant than ever. We live in times of uncertainties and challenges that seem beyond our reach—social, political, personal, and even health-related issues. And it is precisely here that Stoicism offers a liberating perspective. As Epictetus reminds us: “It is not the things themselves that disturb people, but their judgments about these things.” In other words, we are often disturbed not by the situations themselves, but by the way we choose to respond to them.
There is no greater lesson we can take into the next year than the ability to accept what we cannot control. This does not mean resignation or passivity, but rather action focused on our virtues: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. These virtues, according to the Stoics, are the pillars for a dignified and meaningful life, regardless of external circumstances.
Now, as we move into 2025, the question arises: how can we apply these principles in our daily lives? How can we use them to face seemingly impossible challenges and cultivate a more authentic and serene life?
Here are three essential Stoic principles to guide your journey in the coming year:
1. Distinguish the Controllable from the Uncontrollable
Ask yourself: What is really in my hands?
In moments of adversity, we can lose ourselves trying to control what is beyond our reach. The human mind often seeks answers and solutions to complex situations, and this leads to constant emotional wear. However, true inner peace does not come from the incessant struggle against the uncontrollable, but from the wisdom to discern what we can control and what lies outside our domain.
Stoicism teaches us that the source of suffering is often not the situation itself, but our attempt to control aspects of life that do not depend on us. Politics, the behavior of others, external circumstances—these are elements beyond our control. However, what is undoubtedly in our hands is our reaction to these situations, our attitudes, our thoughts, and the choices we make when faced with challenges.
This reminds us that by focusing on what we can control, such as how we choose to respond to situations or the decisions we make in our daily lives, we release the anxiety that arises when we try to manipulate what cannot be changed. This is the key to emotional freedom.
Daily practice of this discernment can be powerful. Every time we face an obstacle, we can pause and ask: “What is really within my reach here? How can I act in a way that aligns with my values, regardless of what happens around me?” By adopting this mindset, we transform the way we approach challenges.
For example, if you face a situation at work where the environment is filled with tension or uncertainty, instead of letting yourself be consumed by frustration over what cannot be changed, you can focus on what is in your control: your attitude, how you communicate, how you handle stress. This shift in focus creates personal power that transcends external circumstances.
The Freedom in Acceptance
Accepting that we cannot control everything does not mean giving up or being passive. It means understanding that true freedom lies in our ability to decide how we respond to each situation, even when we cannot control it. This frees us from the weight of unrealistic expectations and allows us to live more serenely, appreciating the present and focusing on what is essential.
By releasing control over the uncontrollable, you gain freedom. And this freedom is not just emotional—it is practical. You become more resilient, centered, and better prepared to handle life’s ups and downs in a balanced and mindful way.
2. Practice Daily Gratitude
Seneca, in his wisdom, reminds us that “every day is a new life for the wise man.” This powerful thought invites us to look at each new day with a sense of renewal, as if it were a unique opportunity to begin again. Each dawn brings with it the chance to reflect on what we’ve already achieved, what we’ve learned, and, most importantly, what we can be grateful for. When we look back on the past year, it’s essential to cultivate gratitude for every achievement, every challenge faced, and even for the moments of difficulty, which taught us something valuable.
The practice of daily gratitude, for the Stoics, is not just an act of courtesy or a fleeting feeling. It becomes a pillar for building a resilient mindset aligned with wisdom. By focusing on gratitude, instead of dwelling on what we don’t have or what we lack, we create a mindset of abundance and contentment. This steers us away from chronic dissatisfaction, which prevents us from enjoying the good things in life, even when facing adversity.
However, gratitude does not mean ignoring difficulties or being complacent with tough situations. On the contrary, it helps us recognize the lessons we can extract from every experience, whether positive or negative. When reflecting on the challenges of 2024, ask yourself: “What has this experience taught me? How can I use this to grow?” This type of reflection strengthens our ability to learn and prepares us for a more conscious future, focused on what truly matters.
Gratitude as a Transformative Practice
Daily gratitude doesn’t have to be a superficial exercise but rather a deep practice that alters our perspective on life. When we focus on the small things — such as the simple fact of having a home, a meal, or even the ability to learn and grow from mistakes — we can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.
Take work, for example: instead of focusing on daily frustrations like tight deadlines or organizational challenges, we can choose to focus on the opportunities work gives us to grow, help others, and develop new skills. Even in difficult times, gratitude helps us find meaning in what we do and see beyond what we cannot control.
Preparing The Future With Gratitude
When we consistently cultivate gratitude, it not only reduces anxiety and suffering in the present but also prepares us for a clearer, more serene future. Gratitude teaches us to value the present moment, knowing that life is fleeting and every day is a gift. Looking ahead to 2025, gratitude empowers us to move forward with more wisdom and less attachment to expectations, allowing us to adapt better to change and embrace unforeseen circumstances with more serenity.
The true practice of gratitude teaches us not to expect perfection but to accept what we have as enough for the moment. This acceptance brings with it an inner peace that prepares us to transform any situation into an opportunity for growth.
3. Accepting Impermanence
The concept of memento mori — “remember you will die” — is undoubtedly one of the deepest teachings of Stoicism. It confronts us with the fundamental truth that our life, like everything we love, is finite. This reminder, far from being an invitation to despair or melancholy, serves as a powerful push to live more fully, more focused on what truly matters. Impermanence, rather than frightening us, is a call to action, mindfulness, and appreciation of the present moment.
Acceptance of impermanence doesn’t mean living in fear or obsession with death, but instead, it’s about embracing life with a new perspective: knowing that time is limited and that every day we live is a gift. It is this understanding that gives us the clarity needed to live with more intention and purpose. Marcus Aurelius, one of Stoicism’s greatest proponents, said, “Life is short, but it is long enough if well used.” When we are reminded of our finitude, the temptation to procrastinate and delay our dreams diminishes. The fear of making bold decisions is softened, as we understand that the time to act is now, not later.
Living with Purpose and Fulfillment
By accepting impermanence, we are encouraged to live each day with clear intention, with purpose, and with a focus on what truly matters. In 2025, true fulfillment will not be found in accumulating more possessions, status, or empty achievements, but rather in living in accordance with our deepest values. Stoicism teaches us that by focusing on virtues — wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance — we can live a full life, regardless of external circumstances.
Reflecting on the transience of life, what truly emerges is the realization that what matters most are relationships, lived experiences, and the impact we leave on the world. Memento mori encourages us to reflect on how we are using our time, how we are relating to others, and what we are doing with our lives, knowing that it is not eternal. Death, in this sense, is an excellent teacher, showing us how to value what is truly important.
The Value of Impermanence in Daily Life
Acceptance of impermanence also helps us change our relationship with suffering and difficulties. When we realize that even difficult moments are transient, they lose some of their power over us. Stoics believe that adversity is an opportunity to practice our virtues, and this is only possible when we understand that, like everything else, pain will also pass.
This view on impermanence also encourages us to let go of attachment to what we cannot control, to release what prevents us from living with more freedom and lightness. If we knew this was our last day, how would we choose to live it? What would we do differently? These are the questions memento mori forces us to reflect on, and with them, we can consciously choose not to live on autopilot, but to live fully, consciously, and intentionally.
Preparing for 2025
In 2025, by accepting impermanence, we can cultivate a deeper sense of urgency and appreciation for life. Every interaction, every decision, and every moment becomes more meaningful when we understand that time is not guaranteed. Instead of spending energy on worries about the future or regrets about the past, we can focus on making each day an opportunity to live in alignment with who we truly are, not with external expectations.
With an awareness of our finitude, life becomes richer, more intense, and more meaningful. True freedom arises when we accept that what is important is not what accumulates over time, but what is lived deeply and fully in every moment. Thus, the year 2025 becomes fertile ground for making choices that bring us closer to our essence and guide us to a life more aligned with our most authentic values.
Live Now, Live with Purpose
Acceptance of impermanence invites us to live with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose. Every moment is unique and unrepeatable. By reflecting on the concept of memento mori, we can choose to live with more clarity, more courage, and more purpose. This understanding gives us the freedom to stop postponing our dreams and live with an open heart, knowing that, in the end, what truly matters is not what we accumulate, but how we live.
THE STOIC PRACTICE IN THE MODERN WORLD
We live in a world where the search for quick solutions, immediate results, and external validation seems to dominate the pace of daily life. Social media, excessive consumption, and the constant pressure for status and appearance are part of a landscape that favors the ephemeral and superficial. In this context, adopting Stoic principles can be a revolutionary act — a return to the inner self, a reclaiming of autonomy over our own lives.
As we distance ourselves from the culture of instantaneity and begin to reflect more deeply on what truly matters, Stoicism offers us a map to navigate the complexity of modern life. How can we apply this ancient philosophy in 2025 so that it helps us live with more clarity, purpose, and serenity, while the world around us demands quick and superficial answers?
Here are three Stoic practices that can transform your journey in the new year, leading you to live with more depth and alignment with your essential values.
1. Reflect on What Truly Matters to You
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The first crucial step in Stoic practice is to stop and ask: what truly matters to me? In a society that frequently tries to shape us according to its expectations — whether through social, professional, or material standards — it’s easy to lose sight of our authentic values.
Stoics like Seneca and Epictetus teach us that we must seek wisdom to discern between what is desirable and what is essential. Our personal values — such as the pursuit of inner freedom, virtue, and authenticity — should be the foundation of our decisions, not external demands.
Reflecting on what truly matters can be an ongoing process of self-discovery. By doing this, you align more deeply with your own principles, and instead of succumbing to external pressure, you begin to make more grounded decisions aligned with your true nature. This creates a sense of inner power and independence.
In 2025, ask yourself more often: Am I living according to my values or those of others? Stoicism teaches us to focus on what is under our control — and the control of our choices, based on what is fundamental to us, is an essential step towards a fuller life.
2. Reevaluate Your Goals and Objectives Based on What is Genuinely Important
The modern world imposes external goals: to be richer, more successful, more popular. However, often these goals are at odds with our true inner needs and desires. Here, Stoic teachings become a fundamental guide. Stoic philosophy reminds us that our goals should be guided by virtue and what truly matters for our well-being and happiness, not by what society or external circumstances tell us we should pursue.
Stoicism teaches us that true happiness does not come from external achievements or the accumulation of wealth, but from a life lived according to the virtues of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. Instead of setting your goals in terms of material achievements or social status, reevaluate your goals based on what is genuinely important for your inner peace.
Ask yourself: Are my goals leading me to live more virtuously? Are they bringing me closer to what I truly seek in my life, such as wisdom, harmony, or meaningful connections? This ongoing reflection not only improves your quality of life but also brings a deeper sense of fulfillment by aligning your goals with your essential virtues.
3. Develop the Habit of Writing Daily Reflections
Self-awareness is the key to self-mastery, and Stoics emphasized the importance of daily introspection. One of the most powerful ways to achieve this inner clarity is through reflective writing. Marcus Aurelius, for example, wrote his daily meditations to strengthen his understanding of himself and the world around him.
In 2025, you can adopt the practice of writing daily reflections, a simple yet profoundly transformative exercise. By dedicating a few minutes each day to reflect on your actions, emotions, choices, and challenges, you can increase your self-awareness and strengthen your ability to respond to adversity. Writing also helps keep your focus on what truly matters, offering an opportunity to constantly review your goals, values, and practices.
This practice is not only a tool for self-knowledge but a way to cultivate your mind toward wisdom and discernment. By writing, you can see your actions from a new perspective, evaluate your mistakes more constructively, and adjust your path according to the principles you wish to follow.
ADOPTING STOICISM AS A PATH TO FREEDOM AND DEPTH
In 2025, applying Stoic principles can be the key to navigating the complexities of the modern world with more serenity, clarity, and purpose. By reflecting on what truly matters, reevaluating our goals, and practicing daily introspection, we can live more authentically, aligned with our deepest values.
Adopting Stoic philosophy is not just theory, but daily practice. The world around us is constantly changing, but our response to it can be more centered and aligned with the inner freedom we seek. Instead of getting lost in superficiality, we can use Stoic principles to live with more depth and meaning. Rather than reacting impulsively to challenges, we can learn to see every situation as an opportunity to grow.
Whenever I can, I use Stoic teachings to help my clients face their difficulties with serenity. And this is not limited to working with others, but also to our own lives. When we face adversity, instead of fighting against the uncontrollable, we can direct our energy toward what is within our reach: our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. Living in the present, as Seneca teaches us, is key to reducing emotional suffering. Tomorrow, with its challenges and uncertainties, has not yet come, and anticipatory suffering only robs us of the peace we can find in the now.
THE ROLE OF STOICISM IN THE NEW YEAR
As we enter 2025, how about considering Stoicism as a guide to transform every adversity into an opportunity for growth? When life seems to challenge us, remember the words of Marcus Aurelius: a problem is, in fact, an opportunity for us to exercise resilience and practice our virtues. Stoicism teaches us that by focusing on what we can control — our attitudes, choices, and reactions — and wisely accepting what we cannot, we can achieve lasting serenity.
This is the time to reflect on our goals. The value of these goals should be measured by their ability to promote virtue and self-knowledge. Instead of simply seeking external achievements, like financial success or public recognition, Stoicism guides us to set goals aligned with our deepest values. Ask yourself: are these goals helping me live virtuously? Do they bring me closer to who I truly am, or are they just reflections of external expectations?
This reflection can be liberating, as it allows us to reconsider what we are truly seeking and choose goals that bring more purpose and fulfillment to our journey.
RESILIENCE THROUGH ADVERSITY
Modern life constantly challenges us with rapid changes and unforeseen events, generating a sense of constant pressure. Stoic philosophy offers a powerful resource for dealing with these adversities with serenity and resilience. Contrary to what we often think, suffering does not need to be feared but understood as an opportunity to practice virtues and strengthen our inner strength.
True resilience, for the Stoics, is not about avoiding obstacles, but learning to face them with wisdom and courage. In 2025, when faced with difficulties, ask yourself: what can I learn from this? How can I use this situation to grow? Adopt the Stoic stance of seeing each challenge as a chance to strengthen your ability to endure and evolve. By focusing on virtues like courage and temperance, you will remain centered and keep moving forward, regardless of external difficulties.
A NEW VISION FOR 2025
As 2025 approaches, we have the opportunity to adopt a deeper and truer vision of what it means to live a full and meaningful life. Stoicism teaches us that by focusing on what we can control and wisely accepting what we cannot, we can achieve lasting serenity. The practice of gratitude, acceptance of impermanence, and reflection on our values are powerful tools to live with more authenticity and purpose.
Therefore, as you enter 2025, remember the words of Marcus Aurelius: “Life is short, but it is long enough if well used.” Let this new year be an opportunity to live according to your values, embracing both moments of pleasure and moments of difficulty, knowing that, ultimately, we are the masters of our reactions to what happens.
Let’s live this new year with more purpose, serenity, and courage!
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