"It is wiser to overcome grief than to deceive oneself about it."

—SENECA, ON CONSOLATION TO HELVIA, 17.1b

On my journey with stoicism, a major concern of mine has been its perceived suppression of emotions. However, I've come to realize the fallacy in many of my preconceived notions about stoicism.

Embrace Your Emotions

Feelings, in particular, stood out. While reading the Daily Stoic, it seemed to me that stoicism advocated neglecting emotions in favor of reason—a notion I strongly disagreed with.

Contrary to my initial impression, stoicism doesn't endorse hiding or evading emotions. Instead, it encourages facing them, processing them, and then moving forward.

It's acceptable to experience grief, pain, or sadness—even though we should strive to find the positive aspects. Similarly, it's fine to feel happiness, lust, or fury, as long as you rationalize, acknowledge those feelings, and then continue with your life. Don't let them engulf you.

Have you ever watched "Six Feet Under" or any other show featuring a morgue? I've always found the American practice of dressing up and applying makeup to a deceased person's body for display in a conference-like room rather peculiar. While we do have funeral arrangements and wakes, ours are more concise.

Regardless of the cultural approach, there's a universal acknowledgment that saying goodbye is a necessary moment. Today's stoic passage emphasizes this importance. No one should divert our attention. Instead, we must confront the pain and grief, accepting it and looking it in the eye. I concur.

In conclusion, today's Daily Stoic, "Embrace Your Emotions," is a recommended read for those who, like myself in the past, dismiss stoicism as lacking empathy and emotional depth.