Stoicism
This is a daunting task because I feel like I've read and learnt so much about Stoicism but at the same time all of the learning can be boiled down into only a few sentences. I will try my best to write down what influences me the most.
// Why Do I Need Stoicism
But before that I think I need to write to explore the fundamental questions: Why do I need to believe in any school of thoughts? I don't have a religious belief and it doesn't seem to bother me at all. That should apply to Stoicism as well because one should be able to pursue wisdom (which is what philosophy means).
I think this is an important question because everyone has the liberty to choose what he/she believes or values. As of today, my answer to the question would be that I find Stoicism provides a profound sense of self-sufficiency when dealing with external uncertainty.
This clarity is beautifully reflected in the words in the personal journal of the emperor, Marcus Aurelius. His writing is a reminder or a revelation to himself, but it echoes deeply with me, and with humankind. We all must go through days dealing with unpleasant people, digesting saddening news, or experiencing the loss of loved ones. He was one of us, but he coped with calamity with faith, with serenity, and with self-sufficiency.
// My Understanding
The approach of Stoicism towards life can be summarized in three points in Meditations 9.6:
"Objective judgment... Unselfish action... Willing acceptance... of all external events."
Firstly, we have no, or only limited control of the outcome of external events, and some would argue that the only thing we have control over is our perceptions. When we have certain objective sensory experiences (seeing, hearing, smelling...) of an external event, we can interpret them in our brains in the way we choose, and people do it in various ways. The Stoic way is to look at them objectively, to "lay them bare... to strip away the legend that encrusts them."
Secondly, with that interpretation, like other traditional philisophies, we shall not retreat to Nihilism, but act uprightly and actively serve our fellow brothers and sisters. Humans are a species built on connectivity, and joy lies in our kindness to others, in doing the right thing for nature, and in achieving humility.