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Stoic Stress ep 16 : Enchiridion 12 : Stress Effect On The Brain
Many people do not consider the serious repercussions of suffering from long-term stress, as the acute stress response is what most people are accustomed to. This acute response could be elicited from something as simple as rushing to catch the train for your morning commute, or completing a work assignment during the last hour of the day.
Chronic stress is an entirely different beast. If you’ve ever seen someone change after being bombarded with a heavy stress burden, then you have observed the negative changes that may have happened to the brain.
Chronic stress affects almost every part of the body, inside and out and the brain is certainly one of the parts that suffers numerous serious consequences.
However through the use of Stoicism we have the ability to train ourselves to not let chronic stress affect us and help protect the reasoning mind.
Enchiridion 12 states If you wish to make progress, dismiss all reasoning of this sort: "If I neglect my affairs, I shall have nothing to live on." "If I do not punish my slave-boy he will turn out bad." For it is better to die of hunger, but in a state of freedom from grief and fear, than to live in plenty, but troubled in mind. And it is better for your slave-boy to be bad than for you to be unhappy. Begin, therefore, with the little things. Your paltry oil gets spilled, your miserable wine stolen; say to yourself, "This is the price paid for a calm spirit, this the price for peace of mind." Nothing is got without a price. And when you call your slave-boy, bear in mind that it is possible he may not heed you, and again, that even if he does heed, he may not do what you want done. But he is not in so happy a condition that your peace of mind depends upon him.
To make progress with Stoicism you need to let go of things in life that could affect you. There is certain value in what is in your control. Are you troubled, happy or miserable at certain times? What causes this? We can be affected by people and situations around us but only if we let them. You and only you let things affect you.
We must be realistic in whatever environment we are is. Let go of things that do not matter and this will help to get peace of mind.
If not there are serious consequences from chronic stress to be aware of.
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By Matt SchmidtMany people do not consider the serious repercussions of suffering from long-term stress, as the acute stress response is what most people are accustomed to. This acute response could be elicited from something as simple as rushing to catch the train for your morning commute, or completing a work assignment during the last hour of the day.
Chronic stress is an entirely different beast. If you’ve ever seen someone change after being bombarded with a heavy stress burden, then you have observed the negative changes that may have happened to the brain.
Chronic stress affects almost every part of the body, inside and out and the brain is certainly one of the parts that suffers numerous serious consequences.
However through the use of Stoicism we have the ability to train ourselves to not let chronic stress affect us and help protect the reasoning mind.
Enchiridion 12 states If you wish to make progress, dismiss all reasoning of this sort: "If I neglect my affairs, I shall have nothing to live on." "If I do not punish my slave-boy he will turn out bad." For it is better to die of hunger, but in a state of freedom from grief and fear, than to live in plenty, but troubled in mind. And it is better for your slave-boy to be bad than for you to be unhappy. Begin, therefore, with the little things. Your paltry oil gets spilled, your miserable wine stolen; say to yourself, "This is the price paid for a calm spirit, this the price for peace of mind." Nothing is got without a price. And when you call your slave-boy, bear in mind that it is possible he may not heed you, and again, that even if he does heed, he may not do what you want done. But he is not in so happy a condition that your peace of mind depends upon him.
To make progress with Stoicism you need to let go of things in life that could affect you. There is certain value in what is in your control. Are you troubled, happy or miserable at certain times? What causes this? We can be affected by people and situations around us but only if we let them. You and only you let things affect you.
We must be realistic in whatever environment we are is. Let go of things that do not matter and this will help to get peace of mind.
If not there are serious consequences from chronic stress to be aware of.