A Practical Stoicism Course: Living with Serenity in an Imperfect World
Lesson 2: The Power of Your Beliefs
Introduction
In the first chapter of this Practical Stoicism Course: Living with Serenity in an Imperfect World, we joined Epictetus in discovering the power of accepting reality as it is. We learned that our peace doesn’t come from changing the world but from flowing with what life hands us, minimizing what harms us, and amplifying what benefits us. This approach gave us the first steps toward our “best possible scenario.” Today, in Chapter 2, we’re leveling up: we’ll explore how what we tell ourselves about our reality shapes our existence. Get ready for a concept that not only builds on what you’ve learned but can transform your life from the ground up.
“It’s not what happens to us that affects us, but what we tell ourselves about what happens.” — Epictetus.
This is the most crucial lesson of Stoicism and one of the biggest revelations I’ve had in my life. Let me break it down for you because this idea can literally save your life (it saved mine, and I’m not kidding).
The Forbidden Phrase of Stoicism
“Isn’t it unbearable to hang oneself? But when someone feels it’s reasonable, they go and do it. Simply put, if we look closely, we’ll find that nothing overwhelms a rational being like the irrational, and yet nothing attracts them more than the reasonable.” — Epictetus.
In plain English, we’re drawn to what makes sense to us and reject what doesn’t.
The problem? Truth—or rather, your truth—is subjective.
So, suppose you believe something because you constantly think about it. In that case, that belief will pull your mind toward it until it becomes real, and you embody it in your reality.
This can be an incredible tool if you choose to believe something good for you:
I’m more attractive than Pierce Brosnan.
I’ve got more charisma than Obama.
I’m more creative than Steve Jobs. :-)
But it’s poison if you choose to believe something bad for you:
I’ve got worse luck than Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner.
Everyone betrays me because nobody loves me.
I’m less attractive than an alien sucking lemons.
ChatGPT will take my job while robots laugh at me.
The issue is that your beliefs are usually subconscious, and from them spring the thoughts that reinforce them.
Focusing on Subconscious Limiting Beliefs
Those subconscious limiting beliefs are the seeds that grow into the tree of insecurity, bearing the fruits of tragedy that can poison every aspect of your life.
Once you get this, I want you to tattoo the following in your mind: just as no one is 100% right 100% of the time in an argument, you can’t be 100% right all the time, either.
So, your arguments come from trying to prove your beliefs are true. And that’s what chains you to a reality you don’t want to live but believe you deserve.
In short, your subconscious beliefs drive your conscious thoughts, which slowly convince you of how you should live.
How to Change Harmful Subconscious Beliefs
No matter how bad you think your life is, plenty of people have had it worse and still thrived. What is the difference between them and you? They believe they can. Read that again.
If you can’t directly change your limiting beliefs because they’re buried in your subconscious, start by changing your conscious thoughts. Over time, this new narrative will seep into your subconscious.
This is like planting new seeds of abundance in your subconscious and watering them until they bloom, crowding out the seeds of scarcity.
To do this, make sure your “new” thoughts align with the future you want to experience, even if you don’t believe it’s likely yet. Little by little, those thoughts will become consistent and inspire actions that prove you’re right.
And, as Epictetus said, since you’re drawn to what feels reasonable, you’ll end up embodying the life you want to live. In other words, you’ll do what it takes to become the person you want to be.
It’s only a matter of time before it works. As Ovid wrote in Epistulae ex Ponto, “The drop hollows the stone not by force, but by persistence.”
Your thoughts are that drop, your subconscious the stone.
To make it easier, here’s a list of affirmations I repeat every morning when I wake up. Over time, they’ve sunk into my subconscious and shifted my false limiting beliefs about prosperity.
Suggested Exercise: Affirmations for Prosperity
In a subjective world, who cares what’s “real”? You need to believe what’s helpful to you.
With these affirmations, you’ll get there if you’re consistent and repeat them every morning for two months.
They program your brain to spot patterns in your reality that confirm them. As you notice these things, they’ll become certainties that solidify your new beliefs and help you focus on the shortest path to your desired future, tuning out the daily noise and distractions.
My affirmation list (inspired by Louise Hay):
I’m deeply grateful for everything I have in life.
I’m consistent in loving myself, and life constantly meets all my needs with great abundance.
I allow myself to succeed.
There’s more money in this world than grains of sand.
I create more work than I can handle, and it’s highly lucrative.
I starve all my negative beliefs; they no longer serve me.
Yes, I matter. I matter to myself, and I matter to life; the universe loves me deeply and takes care of me.
I radiate success and prosperity wherever I go.
I continually increase my conscious awareness of abundance, which is reflected in a steady increase in my income.
I deserve and willingly accept abundant prosperity in every aspect of my life.
Note: If you need affirmations for other areas of your life, like love or happiness, let me know in the comments, and I’ll write some for you.
Take Control of Your Reality
P.S.: Want to break free from the chains of your subconscious and build the life you desire? Subscribe to The Disturbing Blog now to get daily articles, guided meditations, and practical resources like these course designed to apply Stoicism and transform your life. Take the leap today and start living with serenity and purpose!
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A virtual hug
AG