Students of Stoicism seek to achieve something described in a Greek word Eudaimonia. It is commonly defined as happiness or welfare but also human flourishing or prosperity.

The practice of Stoicism provides tranquility by letting go of suffering. It is not easy and requires discipline and focus to achieve this. But the alternative is to continue to function with possible misery.

Do you feel constantly run down? Like you are firing on only three cylinders? Do you suffer from aches and pains, stiffness, muscle tension, poor sleep, anxiety, negative thinking, irritability, or moodiness? Then you are more than likely suffering from chronic stress. You have been trying to meet the world’s impossible standards for so long that you barely even notice that you rarely experience real peace, inner calm, and relaxation.

Your long-time habit is to be on overdrive. Your cortisol and adrenaline levels have not shut off for far too long and this has become your norm. This is a not a happy or a healthy place to be. Many ailments and diseases are stress-related, cardiovascular health, blood pressure and the afore mentioned problems have been linked to stress in studies.

There is hope, however, even if you have lived your whole life on overdrive. It is never too late to change! You can find your personal tranquility by paying attention to what works for you. Find out what brings you closer to your bliss, and then, do more of it! First, you have to figure out how to achieve joy in your life and by letting stress affect you may not find the answer.

Meditations 4. 24. states “Mind few things,” said one, “if you would preserve tranquillity.”He might rather have said, mind only what is necessary, and what the reason of the creature formed for social life and public good recommends, and in the way it directs. And this will not only secure the tranquility arising from virtuous action, but that also which arises from having few things to mind. Would we cut off the most part of what we say and do, as unnecessary, we should have much leisure and freedom from trouble.We should suggest to ourselves on every occasion this question; is this necessary? But we ought to quit, not only unnecessary actions, but even imaginations; and, thus, superfluous actions, diverting us from our purpose, would not ensue.

So, to help you get started, here are some amazing stress busting tools that you can try. Think of it as an experiment along with the serious practice of Stoicism.