“You’re a Stoic, right?” This is a questions people ask me quite often and my usual answer is: “Yes, why do you ask?” The follow-up questions are usually because people are genuinely interested what Stoicism can bring them, because they see me as a grounded, laidback type of guy, with strong opinions on important matters. This year, I feel that I should share more of what makes me myself. How I view the world and society we all occupy. I chose the latter word, because I have a distinct notion that a lot of people have don’t feel as if they are living their lives, but rather are being forced to spend their time in a certain way and it just doesn’t feel right to them.

Why the capital S matters in the word Stoic

There’s stoic and then there’s Stoic. The first is often used as an adjective to describe someone who doesn’t show emotions and usually with a negative connotation. Stoic with a capital S is how I prefer to use it, and not as an adjective, but rather as a title, and a philosophy of life. The capital S matters, because to me they are not the same thing. Mostly because I see Stoicism as something very beautiful and not something bad.

Stoicism has brought me a great deal. What it has taught me is that there is very little I have influence on as a person and at the same time, that our thoughts shape our reality and our world. Our opinions must be formed meticulously and fairly, while still respecting those of others, even if they feel wrong. It is in finding common ground that we can usually find understanding and compassion for others.

Virtues and living in accordance with nature

“The good life is a virtuous life.” This is one of the main pillars of being a Stoic. They also advocate for “Living according to nature.” Which is something we are definitely not doing in Western society. In fact, we’ve deviated so far from it, that we spend most of our time inside, have an alarming growth in both mental and physical disease and are generally far from healthy. In other words, we’ve lost touch with the one thing that allows us to live in the first place; nature and the Earth.

Because I am aware of this for some time now, I’ve decided to delve deeper into my disconnection from Nature and want to make a meaningful change in my life by reconnecting with nature and that’s why I’ve decided to become a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids and start the course to get my Bardic grade there. I see a lot of similarities between my Stoic mindset and the way Druidism handles life in general. You could say that it’s a match made in Heaven (or Nature would be a more fitting term).

The Stoic Bard

So, who knows, maybe I will call myself a Stoic Bard in a year time from now. Who knows? What I do know is that my journey to reconnect feels good. I’ve been digging deep into my own spirit for the past half year. Digging up dirt and confronting really old trauma. It’s sometimes a hard confrontation to see where some of my behaviour and mannerisms come from and why, but it is also a great way to grow. We don’t grow inside our comfort zone, that’s my biggest take-away from all of this.

It’s also very inspirational to know that I can overcome my darker side, by actively confronting it and coming to terms with all the events from my childhood and adolescence that have shaped me into who I am today. Maybe one day, I will write a book about it, instead of a blog 😉

For now, this is what I wanted to share with you today, dear reader.

May the Earth Mother Bless you,

Jeffrey