The (Stoic) Philosophy of Writing

In his article The Stoic Art of Journaling, modern Stoic Ryan Holiday states that “journaling is Stoicism” — the two are intertwined. One cannot truly be Stoic without writing. From this point of view, the act of writing itself becomes philosophy in practice, which is not surprising, given that writing demands retrospection.

Stoicism is a philosophy emerged in ancient Griece around 300 B.C.. The three prominent ancient Stoics we know today are Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca. They all share one common habit: journaling.

Thanks to Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, we can learn so much about this ancient wisdom and benefit from it even today. Modern Stoics suggest that Marcus Aurelius wrote his meditations religiously in the morning, preparing himself for the day ahead. Writing was his way of setting the tone for the day and maintaining focus on what he could control.

It is therefore not too far-fetched to assume that we were not his intended audience — he wrote for himself. And yet his meditations, originally meant to help him become a calm and content person, now serve as an inspiration for all who wish to follow his example.

And I believe this is what separates Stoic journaling from journaling in general. Stoics write to assess their thoughts and actions, to commit themselves to focusing on what they can control (the central tenet of Stoicism), and to engage in a profound and honest dialogue with their inner self.

Stoic Journaling

Journaling remains popular today, even in the smartphone era, as I mentioned in my previous blog. Yours truly is a case in point. Blogging is a hobby and a constant activity of mine, but it has never replaced my notebook. I still journal as often as I blog.

And yet, journaling in itself does not automatically make someone a Stoic. Queen Victoria, for example, was a prolific diarist — but does keeping a diary automatically make her a Stoic? I personally don’t think so. A Stoic does not simply record events.

Marcus Aurelius, like Queen Victoria, was also a diarist. But if we read Meditations, we see that he uses writing to commit himself to being Stoic.

It has been suggested that Marcus Aurelius wrote at dawn, while the rest were still sleeping and before beginning his imperial duties. As emperor and general, he must have been extraordinarily busy — and yet he always found, or rather made, time to write his Stoic reflections.

His writings are all about preparing himself for the day ahead. Stoic writing helps put things into perspective by reminding us that there are many things in life we cannot control. For example, we may not control setbacks themselves — but how we respond to them is within our control.

Then there is Seneca: a politician, a Stoic, and a reflective writer. He wrote in the evening, reassessing his actions and evaluating how he conducted himself. For Stoics, journaling is not mere documentation; it is a mirror through which they examine themselves.

Stoicism with a Capital S

An attentive reader may notice that I use the capital “S” when writing Stoicism. I do this to distinguish the philosophy from the modern use of stoic or stoicism to describe someone who simply suppresses emotion. That popular meaning does not capture the essence of Stoicism with a capital S.

In a nutshell, Stoicism is the ability to continue walking your life’s path despite your emotions. A Stoic does not allow setbacks to derail their course. In fact, setbacks become opportunities — moments to develop resilience. What does not kill you makes you stronger.

The central tenet of Stoicism is the dichotomy of control. Stoics train themselves to distinguish between what lies within their control and what does not. They focus on the former while learning to live with, accommodate, or tolerate the latter. It sounds simple, but believe me: it is easier said than done.

But one thing is certain: writing truly helps put things into perspective.