Stress
"Reality is created by the mind, we can change our reality by changing our mind."
Said by Plato well over 2000 years ago, but still holds true now more than ever as we will discover through the philosophies of Seneca.
Seneca
Best known for his philosophical writings articulating the principles of Stoicism.
A philosophy that emphasises rationality, self-control, and virtue.
In an age of rapid change and uncertainty, Seneca’s principles provide a framework for maintaining equanimity [calmness and composure, especially in difficult situations].
“Nothing is so bitter that a calm mind cannot find comfort in it... Apply reason to difficulties; harsh circumstances can be softened, narrow limits can be widened.” ~Seneca
You can't always control what things happen to you, but you can always control how you decide to react or perceive them.
Realise you will overcome what bothers you, that “this too shall pass.”
Realising that, in the end, you will be stronger and more resilient to future trouble as a result.
Recently, research has provided a strong case for those in doubt of whether they should follow Seneca's philosophy or not.
The research
In a study tracking 30,000 adults in the United States over 8 years, individuals experiencing high levels of stress had a 43% higher risk of death.
The study posed two critical questions:
- "How much stress have you experienced in the last year?"
- "Do you believe that stress is harmful for your health?"
The key insight came from the second question.
The increased risk of premature death associated with stress came from those who saw stress as being bad for their health.
Those who reported high stress levels but did not view stress as harmful, had no increased risk of premature death.
Shockingly, they show the lowest mortality risk among all participants.
Including those with low stress levels.
We can conclude that
Stress is not inherently harmful.
It is our perception of stress that makes it so (or not so).
Perception=Reality
As Epictetus says, "It is not in our control to have everything turn out exactly as we want, but it is in our control to control how we respond to what happens."
You can't control stress completely, but you can control how you decide to view it.
View it positively, and it will be positive.
View it negatively, and it will be negative.
