Keeping Your Peace and Joy in Turbulent Times: A Lesson From the Stoics
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it it all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
-Marcus Aurelius
There have been leaders and tyrants like Nero, Vespasian, Tiberius, Caesar, Sulla, and many others—figures who ruled during tumultuous times. The Stoics of their era lived amid chaos, disorder, and danger, yet they found ways to endure and remain steadfast.
They faced very real fears: the confiscation of their property, losing their livelihood under the whim of an emperor, or being banished into exile. They understood that much of what threatened them was beyond their control.
But, as we’ve discussed before, they recognized something vital—they could still preserve certain things that no one could ever take away.
These weren’t possessions, but qualities and states of mind—things like their dignity, integrity, and sense of self.
Among these, their dignity and self-respect stood as unwavering bastions, even in the darkest circumstances. Epictetus exemplified this while living in slavery. Thrasea and Agrippinus upheld their moral principles during Nero’s brutal reign. They knew that, regardless of external chaos, they had a core inside that no tyranny could touch—their inner virtue.
But there’s more.
Beyond that resilience, there’s another powerful force we can hold onto—and that is happiness and joy.
Why should a Stoic let the ugliness or cruelty of the world diminish their inner peace? Why allow someone’s darkness to cast a shadow over our own lives? Happiness isn’t just a fleeting emotion; it’s a stance, a choice we make every day, regardless of circumstances.
When Marcus Aurelius spoke of defying the negative influences around him—of seeking revenge by “not being like that”—he was emphasizing the importance of this attitude.
How do you stand against oppressive, chaotic times?
How do you push back when faced with a leader’s cruelty or a morally bankrupt society?
The answer is simple but profound: by not letting the turmoil inside you match the chaos surrounding you.
You do this by choosing goodness and joy as your rebellion.
By loving your family fiercely, appreciating the beauty of art and literature, and finding moments of connection and kindness. Smiling at your neighbors, offering help to that sick animal on the roadside—these aren’t small acts; they are acts of resistance against despair. They are ways of affirming life, love, and hope in the face of darkness.
Humor and levity are also powerful tools—laughing at the absurdities of the regime, at the contradictions and riddles of life itself. Even in the worst times, humor reminds us that we’re still human, still alive, still capable of joy.
Above all, I want to emphasize this: maintain a fortress within yourself.
Don’t let them breach your inner citadel. No one—no tyranny, no chaos—can steal your happiness or take away your joy unless you surrender it. These remain your most precious possessions—they are yours to keep, or to give away.
Guard your happiness fiercely.
Nurture it daily with intention and gratitude. Let it be a conscious act of rebellion, a statement that your inner world belongs to you. No matter how turbulent the external world becomes, your capacity for joy and contentment remains intact—if you choose to protect it. Never let the forces beyond your control hold sway over your inner peace.