The Stoics were really big on control. But they were not control freaks at all. A key part of Stoicism is just asking yourself, "Can I do anything about this?" If you can, do it. If you can't... then you can't. But worrying achieves nothing but stress. Here's Ryan: Here's a quick visual to help get the point across: <img src="https://www.bakadesuyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ancient-wisdom-1.jpg"> Next time you're worrying, pause and ask yourself, "Do I have control over this?" If you do, stop worrying and get to work. If you don't have control, worrying won't make it better. And going back to the first point, it might be a good idea to ask yourself what your belief is that's causing all this worry... Yeah, it's probably irrational.

Stoic diagram

Next time you face a challenge, think of someone you admire. <a href="https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/12/how-to-eat-healthy/">Research </a>shows asking yourself "What would _____ do?" can have powerful positive effects on your behavior. (To learn how to find the best mentor for you, click <a href="https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/mentor/">here </a>.) Role models and mentors are great for helping you be your best. But how do you make sure you're actually improving? How do you know you're making progress toward being the best you? Plenty of <a href="https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/10/ritual/">research </a>shows that rituals can really improve your life. What type did the Stoics recommend?

Mentor, day night

Okay, we've learned a lot of ancient wisdom. Let's round it up and get the final tip that science agrees is one of the most powerful happiness boosters... Here's how ancient wisdom from the Stoics can help you be happier: <ul><li>Events Don't Upset You. Beliefs Do : Only the end of the world is the end of the world. </li><li>Control What You Can. Ignore The Rest : Worrying never fixed anything. </li><li>Accept Everything. But Don't Be Passive : Nobody recommends denial. Accept. And then do something. </li><li>Choose Whose Child You Will Be : "What would Batman do in this situation?" </li><li>Morning And Evening Rituals Are Essential : Plan for the day, then reflect on the day. </li> </ul>

Stoic summary

People have enormous respect for ancient wisdom. They just don't read it. Funny thing is, we're more likely to live happier lives when we visit the classics section than the self-help aisle. So how do we get the skinny on what one group of brilliant dead guys - The Stoics - had to say?

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Philosophy

mindfulness

Mindfulness

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Motivation & Inspiration

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Mental Health

meditation

Meditation

Ancient Wisdom  - 5 Rituals That Will Make You Happy

Your identity emerges out of your habits. You are not born with preset beliefs. Every belief, including those about yourself, is learned and conditioned through experience. <a href="https://jamesclear.com/identity-votes#footnote-1-5840">1 </a> More precisely, your habits are how you embody your identity. When you make your bed each day, you embody the identity of an organized person. When you write each day, you embody the identity of a creative person. When you train each day, you embody the identity of an athletic person.

Habit Identities

This is a gradual evolution. We do not change by snapping our fingers and deciding to be someone entirely new. We change bit by bit, day by day, habit by habit. <a href="https://jamesclear.com/identity-votes#footnote-3-5840">3 </a>We are continually undergoing microevolutions of the self. Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. If you finish a book, then perhaps you are the type of person who likes reading. If you go to the gym, then perhaps you are the type of person who likes exercise. If you practice playing the guitar, perhaps you are the type of person who likes music. Each habit is like a suggestion: "Hey, maybe is who I am."

Putting this all together, you can see that habits are the path to changing your identity. The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do. <ul><li>Each time you write a page, you are a writer. </li><li>Each time you practice the violin, you are a musician. </li><li>Each time you start a workout, you are an athlete. </li><li>Each time you encourage your employees, you are a leader. </li> </ul>Each habit not only gets results but also teaches you something far more important: to trust yourself. You start to believe you can actually accomplish these things. When the votes mount up and the evidence begins to change, the story you tell yourself begins to change as well.

 Each time, You are

In one of my very first articles, I discussed a concept called identity-based habits. The basic idea is that the beliefs you have about yourself can drive your long-term behavior. Maybe you can trick yourself into going to the gym or eating healthy once or twice, but if you don't shift your underlying identity, then it's hard to stick with long-term changes.

Ancient Wisdom - 5 Rituals That Will Make You Happy

How to Change Your Beliefs and Stick to Your Goals for Good

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