When people search online for info about self-improvement, names like David Goggins, Andrew Huberman, and Tony Robbins often pop up first. They are famous for advocating extreme discipline, relentless pursuit of success, and sometimes controversial methodologies. 

However, their advice causes viewers to develop impractical versions of what improvement looks like for most people. Not everyone needs to go on 100-mile runs at midnight, not everyone needs to take cold baths every day, and not everyone should commit to trendy but unrealistic self-improvement journeys. 

Social media doesn’t offer a great guide on how to attain discipline. To fully understand and personalize your own self-improvement journey, you should consider the timeless and universal ideas of Stoicism. 

What is Stoicism?

Stoicism originated as a school of philosophy in ancient Greece. It prepares people to face struggles in life. It teaches self-control, rationality, and virtue as paths to contentment. Although social media portrays self-control as being tough and not expressing any “weak” feelings, Stoics believe in the mastery of emotion rather than eliminating feelings. To live a purposeful life, according to the Stoics, we need to be able to manage our emotions and not be ruled by them. 

When the world throws unexpected problems at you, Stoics point out that you cannot control what happens, but you can control how you respond to what happens. Clear thinking and measured emotions better allow people to overcome hardships. In other words, cooler heads prevail.

Say you are a student who just got a bad grade on a test; you will feel a surge of panic and anger. Here is where Stoicism is useful. You can first take a moment to breathe and acknowledge your emotions, then you can evaluate the situation rationally. From there, you might decide to ask a teacher for advice and to figure out what went wrong during the test. Maybe it was poor preparation or lack of focus during the test—Stoics would say to analyze the root of the problem and do better next time. You can’t change the past, but you can focus on the present and change for the better. In situations like this, Stoicism helps to manage emotions and to figure out how to move forward successfully. 

Four pillars of Stoicism

Stoicism revolves around four core principles:

1. Wisdom: The ability to solve complex situations calmly.
2. Courage: The bravery to do the moral thing, even when it’s challenging.
3. Justice: The need to treat others fairly, regardless of how they treat you.
4. Temperance: The self-control to apply moderation in all aspects of life.

In the quest to foster discipline, wisdom and temperance are the two most important virtues. Not only do they form the cornerstone of Stoicism, but they also allow for practical uses in real life: delayed gratification and discipline.  

Discipline & delayed gratification: 

Whenever we have a goal, whether it’s losing some weight, building a business, or becoming an incredible athlete, everyone knows you need to put in the work. This focus on doing the work is known as discipline. 

Discipline is the foundation that allows us to implement and maintain the habits we need to achieve our goals and live a good life. Just like a clock’s gears ensure precise timekeeping, discipline serves as the mechanism to propel our lives forward with consistency and purpose. 

One key aspect of discipline is creating and maintaining healthy habits. By establishing a routine and committing to it, we reduce the need for constant decision-making and rely on the consistency of our habits to keep us on track. Whether it’s setting a regular workout schedule, following daily routines, or practicing a skill consistently, discipline provides the structure, focus, and drive needed to turn our aspirations into reality. 

In addition, discipline also involves consciously making choices that align with our long-term goals- even when faced with distractions, temptations, or setbacks. Stoicism offers a solution to procrastination in the form of the “delayed gratification” mindset. Developing a delayed gratification mindset means learning to delay immediate pleasures for the sake of long-term gains. 

When you procrastinate, it’s usually because you want to “feel good” in the moment, say by getting on Instagram and scrolling instead of getting your homework done, but in doing so, you waste time and cause yourself more stress later on. 

If you kept delayed gratification in mind, you would be able to resist this momentary pleasure and manage your time well, finish the work, and feel more satisfied in the long run. Rather than scrolling on your phone, Stoics know the importance of managing their time and thinking ahead. They recognize the importance of delaying satisfaction until the work is done. This self-control concept is rooted in Kate’s article, which gives a personal perspective on being a Stoic. 

Closing thoughts:

Stoicism is a useful framework to help you achieve your goals. I’ve implemented Stoic principles into my running goal of beating the 1,500-meter school record. When I started to train, I realized motivation doesn’t last forever. I couldn’t rely on short bursts of dopamine. I had to commit to my goal, be accountable to it, and show up every day at the track to see improvements. 

After months of staying focused and consistent, I ran a 4:40 minute 1,500-meter. This was eight whole seconds faster than the school record. I had done it. But more importantly, I learned the significant impact Stoicism has on building good habits and a strong mindset to achieve your goals.