The quest for steadiness often feels elusive in a world characterized by relentless change and unpredictable challenges. Amidst the chaos of modern life, where distractions are rampant, and pressures abound, how can we cultivate a sense of stability that allows us to navigate difficulties with grace? Drawing from the wisdom of Stoic philosophy, we can uncover valuable insights into the art of maintaining a steady mind.
The Stoics, particularly thinkers like Epictetus, emphasized that steadiness is not a passive state of tranquility but an active, reasoned choice grounded in virtue. This article delves into the multifaceted nature of steadiness, exploring how reason acts as a guiding force, the role of externals in shaping our experiences, and the importance of clear judgment.
By embracing the Stoic teachings on eustatheia, we can learn to filter life’s complexities through the lens of reason, cultivating a steady disposition that empowers us to thrive amidst uncertainty. Join us on this journey to discover the principles and practices that can lead us to a more stable and fulfilling life.
“The essence of good is a certain kind of reasoned choice; just as the essence of evil is another kind. What about externals, then? They are only the raw material for our reasoned choice, which finds its own good or evil in working with them. How will it find the good? Not by marveling at the material! For if judgments about the material are straight that makes our choices good, but if those judgments are twisted, our choices turn bad.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 1.29.1–3
The Steadiness We Seek
The pursuit of steadiness is an aspiration shared by many, yet it is often difficult to attain. In today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world, we are bombarded by external influences that test our emotional and mental resilience. The ebb and flow of daily life often leaves us feeling fragmented and ungrounded, with few moments of true peace. However, the Stoics teach that steadiness is not a fleeting state that only comes by chance or retreating from the world. It is a skill that we can cultivate by developing our inner faculties, particularly our ability to reason and make sound judgments.
Steadiness, as described by the Stoics, is not the absence of challenges or external noise. Rather, we can maintain composure and clarity in life’s inevitable ups and downs. The Stoic idea of eustatheia, as defined by Arrian in his writings on Epictetus, encapsulates this concept perfectly. Eustatheia refers to an inner balance or harmony that does not rely on the external world to provide it but is cultivated from within. It is a mental state of calm, where reason prevails over emotion, and the turbulence of the world does not disrupt our core being.
To the Stoics, this steadiness is not achieved by isolating oneself from the world or trying to eliminate all external influences. They believed that true steadiness arises precisely amid external challenges. It is about learning how to engage with the world without destabilizing it. This means not allowing the world’s chaos to dictate our internal state but rather using our judgment to navigate the noise and find clarity and purpose. When we learn to filter external events through reasoned thought, we regain the ability to remain steady no matter what circumstances we encounter. The external world may be unpredictable, but how we respond to it is a product of our reasoning process. By cultivating this reasoning, we can transform chaos into order.
The Role of Judgment in Steadiness
At the heart of steadiness lies judgment—the mental process by which we assess and respond to external events. Judgment is our cognitive ability to evaluate situations, recognize patterns, and make decisions based on reason rather than impulse or emotional reaction. It serves as the bridge between external events and our internal response. Judgment is the lens through which we interpret and process the world around us.
The Stoics held that judgment is the key to our ability to steadily navigate the world. When we face external events, we can choose how we respond to them. We are not simply passive recipients of life’s circumstances but active participants in how those circumstances shape our experience. Proper judgment involves recognizing what is within our control and what is not, and making decisions based on that distinction. For example, when we face a challenging situation, our judgment allows us to evaluate whether it is something we can change or whether it is simply something we must accept. If we have the judgment to recognize that we cannot control the actions of others, we free ourselves from unnecessary frustration and anxiety.
Furthermore, judgment is crucial in determining how we interpret external events. Our emotional responses to a situation are often the result of how we choose to judge it. Two people can face the same situation yet have entirely different experiences based on their judgments. One person might see a job loss as a devastating blow, while another might view it as an opportunity to pursue a new path. This difference in judgment influences how they will respond—one may spiral into despair while the other takes action to move forward.
Developing sound judgment is a lifelong process. It involves becoming attuned to the patterns in our thinking, recognizing when biases or unchecked emotions influence us, and consciously choosing to apply reason instead. By consistently applying clear judgment to our everyday experiences, we create a foundation for steadiness that is not contingent on external events but is built from within.
The Consequences of Crooked Judgment
While proper judgment leads to clarity and steadiness, crooked or flawed judgment can lead to confusion, instability, and emotional turmoil. Epictetus warns us that everything that follows will be similarly distorted when our judgments are twisted or misaligned. Our perception of the world will become skewed, and misinterpretations of reality will drive our actions.
Crooked judgment often arises from emotional bias, personal prejudices, or cognitive distortions. For example, when we are angry or afraid, our ability to assess a situation objectively becomes impaired. Our emotions cloud our judgment, leading us to make reactive rather than reasoned decisions. This can result in behaviors that we later regret, such as snapping at others in the heat of an argument or making hasty decisions under pressure. Crooked judgment can also stem from a lack of self-awareness. When we fail to recognize our biases and assumptions, we may misjudge situations or people, leading to misunderstandings or poor choices.
One of the most common forms of crooked judgment is catastrophizing—imagining the worst possible outcome and allowing that imagined scenario to drive our behavior. This often happens when we are faced with uncertainty or risk. Instead of calmly evaluating the situation, we become consumed by fear and begin to make irrational decisions based on worst-case scenarios. For instance, someone who faces financial difficulty may catastrophize the situation and spiral into panic, even though there may be practical steps they can take to address the issue.
The consequences of crooked judgment are far-reaching. It undermines our ability to maintain steadiness and increases the likelihood of making poor decisions that exacerbate the very problems we are trying to solve. When we fail to check our judgment with reason, we become reactive and impulsive, creating more instability. In contrast, when we develop the ability to filter external events through a clear, reasoned judgment, we can avoid the traps of emotional bias and distortion, allowing us to navigate even the most challenging situations with calm and clarity.
The Power of Proper Judgment
The power of proper judgment lies in its ability to create order and clarity, even amid chaos. When we make decisions based on reason, we can navigate life’s challenges with a steady hand, free from the tumult of unchecked emotions. Proper judgment gives us the mental clarity to separate what is within our control from what is not, enabling us to act with intention and purpose rather than reacting impulsively.
Proper judgment lets us view each situation objectively without being clouded by emotional impulses. It helps us resist jumping to conclusions or making decisions based on fleeting feelings. Instead, we evaluate the facts, consider our options, and choose the course of action that aligns with our values and long-term goals. For instance, when faced with a disagreement, proper judgment enables us to assess the situation calmly, avoiding reactive behaviors such as shouting or blaming. We can choose a constructive, respectful response and in line with our principles.
Moreover, judgment helps us maintain emotional equilibrium. It enables us to recognize when our emotions cloud our judgment and pause before making decisions. This pause allows us to regain our composure, separate ourselves from immediate feelings, and make a choice that is in line with our rational mind. Proper judgment also helps us recognize patterns in our behavior and thinking. When we consistently apply reason to our choices, we make decisions more naturally and without excessive struggle.
Practicing proper judgment is not about suppressing emotions or pretending that challenges don’t affect us. It is about developing the ability to respond to those challenges with composure, clarity, and purpose. Over time, as we practice sound judgment, it becomes easier to maintain steadiness, even in the face of adversity. Judgment allows us to act thoughtfully and intentionally instead of being at the mercy of our impulses and emotions.
Cultivating Steadiness in Everyday Life
Integrating judgment into our daily lives is essential to cultivating steadiness. It’s easy to forget amid hectic schedules, stressful events, and constant distractions, but by making judgment a habit, we can bring more clarity and calm into our experiences.
The first step in cultivating steadiness is to become more mindful of our judgments. When we encounter challenges, instead of immediately reacting, we should pause and take a moment to evaluate the situation. Ask yourself: “What is the most reasoned response to this?” This simple stepping back allows us to detach from immediate emotions and approach the situation. By practicing this pause, we begin to recognize when our judgments are influenced by irrational fears, assumptions, or biases, and we can choose to override them with more rational responses.
Another effective practice is to reframe the way we view external events. Instead of seeing every setback as a failure or every challenge as an obstacle, try to view them as opportunities for growth. This shift in perspective can significantly reduce stress and anxiety as we begin to see difficulties as temporary and manageable rather than as permanent sources of distress. For instance, when we face a professional setback, we can ask, “What can I learn from this instead of lamenting the situation?” This reframe helps maintain emotional balance and ensures we approach problems with a clear, solution-oriented mindset.
Finally, regular reflection on our judgments is key to steady growth. At the end of each day, take a few minutes to reflect on your decisions and responses. Were they based on sound reasoning? Were there moments when your emotions influenced your judgment? This self-awareness helps to improve our judgment over time and ensures that we continue to grow in our ability to stay steady in the face of challenges.
By consistently applying these practices, we build a mental habit of steady judgment. With time, this steady mindset will become second nature, allowing us to face inevitable uncertainties and disruptions with calmness, clarity, and composure.
Daily Stoic Meditation: Where Can I Find Steadiness?
I like to use the example of my weight loss journey. Over time, I stopped thinking about losing weight and started thinking about fitness in a larger sense, where the goal is no longer a number but a healthier lifestyle.
One key challenge when overcoming a specific challenge is sticking to a routine. In weight loss, it is exercise and diet; in academics, it may be regular with your studies.
When I want to stick to a diet, one of my biggest challenges is the temptation to order outside food or eat junk whenever I feel like munching. Unless you are David Goggins, your willpower will exhaust, and you will give in. I realized that saying no to such temptations is not a daily thing but an hourly effort. It’s not about willpower but discipline, which comes from the little things.
You have to make a healthier choice every hour. You need a purpose and absolute clarity about what you want to accomplish. It requires a lot of meditation and thought to keep your reason front and center at all times to remain steady.
My steadiness comes from making small changes to my routines and picking off challenges individually. I seek a lot of advice from my mentors and discuss everything with whoever can help me. I am shameless about my goals and don’t care who I annoy because I will not reach where I want to go unless I am willing to sacrifice a few things.
The people who understand that will stick by me because they will understand it’s nothing personal but something that needs to be done. If they left, they wouldn’t have stuck around for long anyway. It sounds like a lot of work because it is. I am clear that I should not and will not expect results unless I am willing to do these things.
Conclusion: The Path to Clarity
In the quest for steadiness, clarity emerges as the guiding principle. Proper judgment, rooted in reason, illuminates the path forward. It empowers us to navigate the complexities of life with poise and assurance. To be steady is to embrace the art of discernment, transforming chaos into order through the power of choice.
By committing to this practice, we can cultivate a resilient and profoundly fulfilling state of being. The journey may be fraught with challenges, but with reason as our steadfast companion, we can navigate the currents of life with grace and clarity.
This article is a part of The Daily Stoic Meditations Series based on Ryan Holiday’s book.