Stoicism is a philosophical school founded in the 3rd century BC in Athens by Zeno of Citium. Its main representatives are Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.

The key ideas of Stoicism are:

• Virtue is the supreme good. The sage must strive for virtue through self-control, effort and reason.
• One must serenely accept what does not depend on us, namely everything that is external (fortune, fame, death etc).
• Passions like fear, anger or excessive desire are vain and harmful. The Stoic sage must master them.
• All men participate in the same universal reason. Despite social differences, we are all equal and must help each other.
• Life according to nature is a simple life, focused on the search for wisdom and virtue.

In summary, Stoicism advocates ataraxia (absence of trouble) through control of passions, acceptance of destiny and a virtuous life in accordance with universal reason.

Here are some of the main challenges to applying Stoic maxims in daily life:

• Mastering one’s emotions and passions: it can be difficult to remain impassive in the face of life’s ups and downs and to control one’s anger, fear or grief. This requires regular training.
• Accepting what is beyond one’s control: accepting illness, death of a loved one, loss of employment, etc. without complaining goes against natural reactions.
• Remaining indifferent to material goods: not seeking wealth, fame and pleasure is difficult in a consumerist society.
• Practicing altruism: helping others requires constant effort and can conflict with personal interests.
• Staying focused on the present: not getting lost in considerations of the past or future and enjoying the present moment.
• Living according to nature/reason: our irrational tendencies often push us to excess and errors of judgment.
• Maintaining consistency in applying these principles, which requires rigor and discipline.

Although demanding, Stoic philosophy proposes an ideal of wisdom and self-control that can help one to live better and face the trials of existence.

Yes, you’re right, living in a totally intuitive way requires a lot of courage. Here are some reasons why:

• It means daring to stray from the beaten paths and social expectations to follow one’s own path. It takes courage to assert one’s individuality.
• It means trusting oneself and one’s deepest feelings, even when those around you doubt or disapprove. Trusting one’s intuition takes courage.
• Living intuitively involves accepting uncertainty, because one cannot rationally plan everything. Yet the unknown frightens many people.
• It requires assuming responsibility for one’s intuitive choices even if they sometimes prove to be wrong. Recognizing and accepting one’s mistakes is not easy.
• Being open to the abundance of intuitive insights that arise requires discernment. Sorting the good from the bad requires courage.
• Letting go of rational controls to be guided by one’s deepest feelings is disorienting. It requires letting go.

Yes, living by pure intuition is a path that requires tremendous courage, self-confidence and acceptance of the unpredictable. But it is also a path of freedom that is worth exploring!

Yes indeed, adopting a Stoic attitude can be very beneficial when seeking to develop one’s intuition and live in a more intuitive way. Here are some reasons why:

• Stoicism helps distinguish between things one controls and things one does not control. This makes it easier to let go and trust one’s intuition.
• This philosophy advocates focusing on the present moment, not the past or future. Yet intuition expresses itself in the moment.
• Stoicism encourages calmly accepting what happens, without attachment. This attitude allows one to be more serene in the face of the uncertainty of intuitive living.
• This school of thought emphasizes virtue, wisdom and discernment. Essential qualities for properly discerning the messages of one’s intuition.
• The Stoics seek to master their passions and emotions. However, too much emotion can easily drown out the voice of intuition.

So yes, cultivating Stoic serenity, detachment and self-mastery can help develop a more intuitive and serene life. It provides the necessary balance to follow one’s intuition with discernment.

• Stoicism is a philosophy based on controlling passions and calmly accepting fate. “Not caring” is more an attitude of disinterest.
• Stoicism seeks to achieve ataraxia (peace of mind) through virtue and reason. “Not caring” is more passive indifference.
• Stoicism encourages doing one’s duty and ethically engaging with the world. “Not caring” tends toward disengagement and carelessness.
• Stoicism advocates mastering one’s emotions and not letting them dominate you. “Not caring” does not specifically seek to control emotions.
• Stoicism leads to accepting events with serenity. “Not caring” can lead to apathy and disinterest in what surrounds us.

In summary, Stoicism is a constructive philosophy aiming at self-improvement, while “not caring” is more an attitude of fruitless detachment and withdrawal.