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15 Short Stoic Rules I Try to Live By in Difficult Times
Practical ideas to change your life (they changed mine)

When things are falling apart, I turn to stoicism. The Stoics — Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus lived through war, exile, and suffering. But they stayed strong. They didn’t just talk about resilience; they lived it. I try to do the same. These are the Stoic rules, among other mental philosophies, I try to live by in difficult times. They help me stay calm, focused, present and keep moving forward — no matter what. They bring clarity when my mind wants to spiral out of control.
- “Be indifferent to what makes no difference.” Marcus Aurelius said that. Not everything deserves my attention. Most things don’t. I save my energy for things that matter. My health. My values. My work. My family. My growth. Everything else is background noise. I try not to waste time on things outside my control. I don’t want to react to every minor annoyance. I keep my focus where it belongs — on the things that actually move my life forward.
- When things fall apart, focus on your circle of influence. What can I do now becomes the only question that matters. It stops me from overthinking. Epictetus said, “Some things are up to us, and some things are not.” I focus on what’s up to me. When external difficulties get overwhelming, I get back within. And think internal solutions. The key is practice. Every time I let go of what I can’t change, I take back control of stress.
- Find wisdom in obstacles. Marcus Aurelius wrote, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” I try to see that. I’ve never stopped reminding myself of that quote. When I face setbacks, I think of them as training. A rude comment? Training for patience. A sudden illness? Training for gratitude. When I fail, I look for the lesson. When I feel stuck, I focus on the teaching lesson. I don’t enjoy hard times, but I respect them. They show me who I really am. Or I transcend the inevitable, the more capable I feel.
- Memento mori — “remember you must die.” I don’t like thinking about death. The stoics thought it was a humbling perspective. One day, I won’t be here. That fact makes life urgent. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius wrote “You could leave life right…