Lead The Happiest Possible Life
4th Century BC was the peak of Greek philosophy, art, literature and architecture. One quarter of the entire population was made up of slaves who were captured from war and served as a resource to the Greek civilization by providing menial labor and domestic services to those in the higher tiers of social economic hierarchy. Homes were modest with no windows and the average day was spent outdoors. Diets consisted primarily of wine and bread with the consumption of meat being reserved for special religious holidays or other high profile occasions. Life was simple.
Epicurus (341-270 BC) is an important philosopher who contributed to the major concepts now used in modern science. Greek philosophy of the time was controlled by authority figures who shaped their ideas in myths that were passed on through oral and written tradition. Epicurus created an optimistic worldview that focused on individuality and liberation from previous schools of thought. A quote in his writing states, “Dreams have neither a divine nature nor a prophetic power, but they are the result of images that impact on us.” This demonstrates his disagreement of mystical belief during the time and still aligns with current scientific principles.
The following doctrine that Epicurus presented is a summary of the title Tetrapharmakos, which means ‘four part cure’ or solution to living a happy life. Originally written in Greek then translated into English.
Don’t fear god,
Don’t worry about death;
What is good is easy to get, and
What is terrible is easy to endure.
By balancing the aspects of our life that may often times be spread thin by our own psyche we become effective in managing our own happiness. Removing oneself from materialism and worry, especially of death, frees the chains of mortality. “Don’t spoil what you have by desiring what you don’t have; but remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for.” Intellectual ascension that turns against materialistic behavior will certainly create long lasting contentment.
“Epicurus manages to isolate the important parts of life along with the ones that are potentially harmful. He urges you to only spend time with the people you really like and avoid being mixed up in political intrigues. Don’t fear death as there is no point in doing so.” – Mikael Livas
Take a few moments to think of the individuals and influences that surround you on a daily basis. Who do you communicate with frequently? What activities take up a majority of your time? Are these influences on your life keeping you in a positive state? Showing respect for all other human beings is essential, however, enduring a parasitic relationship or unhealthy lifestyle can be detrimental to growth.
Wise words offered by philosophers like Epicurus impel us to not sweat the small stuff and act as a daily point of inspiration. The true power of the mind is still misunderstood by psychology and cannot be accurately quantified. Finding silence in the storm of your calendar events and to-do lists can be difficult. By harnessing your tremendous ability to overcome challenge and adversity, you are the newly proclaimed champion of life.
Credit to Mikael Livas for sharing his knowledge of the philosopher Epicurus and inspiring this article.
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