Stoicism promotes so many benefits to a healthier lifestyle. Those who follow this way of life will care less about what others think, waste less time, remember what is in their control, stop being distracted, stop being anxious, be more grateful, and want less. The revival is occurring because our modern and chaotic world often increases confusion, anger, and worry. Stoicism offers a respite from these challenges. Some find it difficult to follow, even impossible. However, I have found it is made so much easier to follow because of my religion.

Therefore, why not stoicism?

One of the greatest issues with hedonism is the complete ignorance of memento mori (Latin: remember you will die). When we are so focused on pleasure, how can one live a virtuous life? Hedonists are ignoring one of the purposes of this life: living virtuously. If everyone was a hedonist, why would we care for the future, the increase of society, the environment, or even our posterity? Hedonism is therefore a selfish and an ignorant philosophy.

Stoicism is made so much easier to follow when you believe in a religion. Stoicism then complements religion and adds context to a way of life. I’ve found that it’s actually easy to live when I believe in God and an afterlife.

In my beliefs, evil is evil. Sins have varying degrees of severity, but doing evil is still evil. As Jesus Christ once said “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon“ (Matt. 6:24 KJV). Jesus shows that man cannot be evil and righteous at the same time. We cannot serve Satan and God simultaneously. Either one will serve God or serve the Adversary. Thus, there is no turning point of evil. Either one does right or one does wrong.

I believe another question is “how do we alleviate pain in a moral way?” That’s one of the greatest flaws of hedonism in my opinion: a lack of morality.

Limiting suffering does not require indulging passions for pleasure. In my personal beliefs, living a moral life will bring joy and respite from suffering. Not the blissful feeling of temporal, fleeting happiness, but a true, everlasting joy: a joy not to be repented of. This derives from stoicism. However, many find it difficult to live and reap the benefits of stoicism because they do not have religion. The two complement each other. Thus, in order to feel the joy opposite of that living suffering, one must live morally and “be good” as Marcus Aurelius would say. Unfortunately, many would disagree with this sentiment because they want instant gratification and small bursts of bliss. True joy, however, derives not from an action, but from a lifestyle.

“The predominant thought or the mental attitude is the magnet, and the law is that like attracts like, consequently, the mental attitude will invariably attract such conditions as correspond to its nature.”
-Charles Haanel
According to this idea, a positive mindset will bring positive circumstances. However, a negative mindset will also bring negative circumstances. Even if you do not believe in the law of attraction, the mindset is where everything is determined. A situation can only be considered in a negative light if the mind says so. “A real man makes his own luck” (Billy Zane). For many, luck is not an all encompassing presence like the Force in Star Wars; luck is determined by the way that we see situations.

In addition to telling this to the man, I would also sympathize with his situation. Even mourn outwardly if the situation is that immense. However, I would not let what befalls him alter my disposition or life. I would definitely care about the man and worry about his well-being, but regardless of what the world brings, it is important to keep one’s own calm and happiness.
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters” -Epictetus