Managing emotions and staying calm are crucial skills for success in administrative work. In the past few months, I’ve been really digging Stoic philosophy. The ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism teaches us how to develop resilience, adaptability, and focus on what we can control in the face of adversity. I will summarize common Stoic beliefs that can benefit us in administrative situations.
What Stoicism Isn’t
Stoicism isn’t about suppressing emotions or being emotionless. It’s not about denying our feelings or bottling them up. Stoicism is about acknowledging our emotions, but not letting them control us. It’s about accepting what we cannot change and focusing on what we can control.
Stoicism is not about being indifferent or passive, but about being resilient and taking action in the face of adversity. It encourages us to cultivate virtues like courage, wisdom, and self-discipline. Stoicism is not about escaping from reality or avoiding challenges, but about embracing them and finding inner peace amidst the chaos.
With that clarified, let’s talk about what led me to Stoicism.
My Why
One of the more difficult aspects of our profession is that it is our job to care. We must care about everything – the details, the perspectives, the outcomes, etc. I’m going to be honest, that’s just not me. Well, it is me, but it’s not me. Let me explain.
I have always cared about the details, perspective, and the outcomes, but as I gained more experience, I realized I was fooling myself. The organizational, managerial, and departmental goals I was working so hard to make succeed were not actually within my control.
Yes, I was contributing a lot, but I came to understand that the organization’s success wasn’t something I had control over. This realization helped to put my role into perspective. For admins, we’re involved in so much of the details, history, and journey that we often forget the line where our involvement and accountability should end.
After this realization, I discovered I didn’t know how to explain this realization without sounding bitter or mad.
During my search, I stumbled upon a YouTube video by Einzelgänger called “When Life Hurts, Care Less About It | The Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius“. This video was my first realization that the true meaning of “being stoic” was completely different from what I thought.
After watching the video, I became more interested in Stoicism and its potential benefits at work. Here are five general, fundamental Stoic practices that I think would be helpful in the office workplace.
1. Embracing the Stoic Mindset
The first practice in using stoicism in the workplace is adopting the Stoic mindset. Yea, okay, this is a tall order, but this doesn’t mean that you have to be a full Stoic convert. I just mean to simply attempting to incorporate a little Stoic philosophy throughout your day.
Incorporating the philosophy into your day involves recognizing that there are things beyond our control, such as the actions and opinions of others, and focusing instead on what we can control – our own thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
By embracing this mindset, we can cultivate a sense of inner tranquility and resilience that allows us to navigate workplace challenges with a clear and calm mind.
2. Practicing Emotional Detachment
One of the core teachings of stoicism is the practice of emotional detachment.
No, this doesn’t mean suppressing or denying our emotions, but learning to observe them without being consumed by them. It can come in handy at work, especially when facing tough bosses, coworkers, clients, or high-pressure scenarios.
For me, this practice is one of the most difficult, yet the most important. We put so much effort into our work and the quality of our work, so it’s hard not to get emotionally attached to it and the people we’re assisting. But you gotta learn to not give a flying fuck about what people say about you, or it could eventually crush your soul. In fact, in one of my recent blog posts, I highlighted this same thing from my own experiences.
When we don’t let emotions take over, we can keep a level head, make reasonable decisions, and face challenges with ease.
3. Focusing on What We Can Control
Stoicism emphasizes the importance of focusing on what is within our control and letting go of what is not. So, basically, don’t waste time on things out of our control at work. Let’s put our energy into what we can change.
I am fully aware this is much easier said than done, but if you can actually make this a regular practice, then you’re going to feel so much better. As a perfectionist, this concept was actually pretty difficult to do and accept because I love having control. When I stopped obsessing over things I can’t control, I felt more in control overall.
I felt freer. It’s not that I didn’t care, but I knew what I could do and focused on doing it well.
Concentrating on our own performance, attitude, and work ethic can increase our productivity, effectiveness, and job satisfaction.
4. Adapting to Change with Resilience
Change is an inevitable part of any work environment, and stoicism offers valuable insights on how to adapt to change with resilience.
Stoics teach us to view change not as a threat, but as an opportunity for growth and learning.
It’s human nature to love routine. I get that, but it’s also unrealistic. What I love about Stoic philosophy on change is that it helps you deal with the reality that change is inevitable.
Think about it. We still could be using an abbacus, sundials, and stone carvings rather than a calculator, a clock, and computers. Not all change is bad. That’s the same logic that could lead you to making substantial positive change in your work.
For me, I found Trello because I needed a better way to organize the multitude of hats I was wearing. This one open-minded action led me to take better control of my work life and helped change the lives of many other admins!
If we’re open to change and can go with the flow, we’ll handle transitions like champs, stay flexible no matter what, and keep on killin’ it at work.
5. Cultivating Gratitude and Mindfulness
Gratitude and mindfulness are key principles in stoicism that can greatly enhance our experience in the workplace.
By practicing gratitude, we shift our focus from what is lacking to what we already have, fostering a sense of contentment and appreciation. Mindfulness, however, helps us be aware of the present moment, so we can focus on our work and understand our thoughts and emotions better. It’s the combination that makes this magical.
Don’t get me wrong. We can get tired, cranky, and downright pissed at work, but showing gratitude can help soften the blow and even turn your frown upside down. When you show gratitude for your surroundings, certain people, or your circumstances, you can create a silver lining that no one can take from you.
By integrating these practices into our daily routine, we can create a more positive and fulfilling work environment.
Conclusion: From Stress to Success: Using Stoic Principles to Thrive in the Workplace
In conclusion, stoicism offers valuable principles that can greatly affect our professional lives.
Adopting a stoic mindset can help us deal with workplace challenges easily and have a satisfying career. To do so, we need to detach ourselves emotionally when needed, focus on what we can control, adapt to change resiliently, and practice gratitude and mindfulness.
Remember, incorporating stoicism into your work life is a journey that requires consistent practice and self-reflection. Start small, be patient with yourself, and gradually integrate these principles into your daily routine.
Trust me, the payoff is worth it.
Featured Photo by Jodie Cook on Unsplash
