I have been on the Stoic path for a little more than three years. As with many prokoptons, I began my journey in search of several things: inner peace, fortification against vicissitudes, appreciation for a seemingly unyielding cosmos bent on breaking my spirit, and inspiration to be a better human for the people in my life. Prior to exploring Stoicism, I could be described as having a volcanic temper (not often upset, but incredibly so when I was), judgmental, petty, and quick to please others at the expense of my self worth.
I then began reading the main Stoic texts: the Discourses of Epictetus, Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, and Letters of Seneca. They were painful to read at first, because I had spent my adult life up to that point with a certain worldview I had crafted – either perfection or failure were the only possible outcomes, my mental health did not matter as much as the happiness of those around me, and success looked like getting promotions as often as possible.
For the first year, I slogged through the Discourses and Meditations. I was overwhelmed by the how these incredibly different people in history were able to arrive at similar mindsets of sheer love, appreciation, and reverence of a universe which had been so unaccommodating to each of them; Epictetus as a slave, and Marcus as an emperor when all he wanted to do was read philosophy and contemplate the cosmos.
That is when I made a simple but profound conclusion – if these two people were able to adopt this philosophy at completely different ends of the civic spectrum, then I certainly could since I am not outside their bounds as both not a slave and not an emperor. A silly thing to say out loud, but the silly things are sometimes those which we need to speak.
Still feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information contained in these books, I decided that I would make my own interpretation of what I was reading. This would help me to slow down and decipher the inundation of dense philosophical material into a form that my mind could better comprehend. I have written poetry for most of my life, and chose to employ this tool as a means of self-discussion.
So, I got to work. Every morning while reading from these books, I would write a haiku; I chose haikus due to the strict constraints and formatting… I needed the structure. Over the course of a week, these seven haikus came together to form one poem about a topic which I had been reading about from the Stoic texts.
Below, I have included nine such didactic poems, along with a quote that inspired the topic about which I was writing that week. I’ve also added commentary about each poem (directed squarely at myself, not at you, dear reader) to share a bit about the thinking behind what I wrote.
On Morality
Just as you protect
your body from harm, you must
guard your character.
This means being kind,
even to wretched people
who are self-centered.
It means holding doors,
letting people merge into
your lane in traffic,
dismissing anger,
loving unforeseen outcomes,
and choosing to help.
It means standing up
against clear and present vice
through rational choice.
Don’t sink to levels
of villains and miscreants.
Be a good person.
Be the example.
Don’t wait for somebody else
to do it for you.
No more roundabout discussion of what makes a good [person]. Be one!
-Meditations 10.16
It is not easy to come to the conclusion that, despite the efforts you put into being a better human, other people may not have the same set of priorities as you. This should not stop you from improving your character; the actions of others are outside of your sphere of influence, and the best you can do with the time that you have is eradicate your faults while being of benefit to those around you.
—
On Reflection
The difference between
brooding and reflecting is
direction of thought.
Brooding is backwards,
spiraling fast out of control
without an intent.
It reminisces,
wishing things turned out better,
casting blame and doubt.
Reflecting serves us –
it extracts useful pieces
of experience.
It helps us to grow,
to see how what we have done
can teach us to live.
So – to think forward,
consider how your choices
improve character.
Let the past inform
who you’ll be in the present;
don’t let it rule you.
Remember too that philosophy wants only what your nature wants: whereas you were wanting something unnatural to you. Now what could be more agreeable than the needs of your own nature? This is the same way that pleasure trips us: but look and see whether there is not something more agreeable in magnanimity, generosity, simplicity, consideration, piety. And what is more agreeable than wisdom itself, when you reflect on the sure and constant flow of our faculty for application and understanding?
-Meditations 5.9
Reflection and brooding are two sides of the same coin. Both are ways of looking at past events, comparing what happened against what we would have preferred. They each prompt us to imagine alternative outcomes, but they differ in how they make us feel after the fact. If you are like me and are familiar with the activity of catastrophizing (quickly deciding that what has happened is a significantly negative or worst-case scenario result), then brooding is likely something with which you’ve had experience. It doesn’t feel good to go down that rabbit hole, and luckily for us we don’t have to – as long as we remember the purpose of each thought we have. How is this serving my growth of moral character? What is this helping me improve?
—
On What Is Up To Us
Things in our control
are vastly outnumbered by
the things which are not.
This may disconcert
those of us who wish to have
events go their way.
There is nothing wrong
with taking action to move
forward to virtue;
do be mindful, though,
to not get carried away
chasing externals,
for the things beyond
your reasoned choice and actions
are not up to you.
If you place value
on things beyond your control,
peace will evade you.
Instead pursue this:
right reason in line with all,
and play your role well.
You desire what is not in your control: fine, but be prepared to be refused, to be frustrated, to come up empty-handed. [16] If, on the other hand, we read books entitled On Impulse not just out of idle curiosity, but in order to exercise impulse correctly; books entitled On Desire and On Aversion so as not to fail to get what we desire or fall victim to what we would rather avoid; and books entitled On Moral Obligation in order to honour our relationships and never do anything that clashes or conflicts with this principle; [17] then we wouldn’t get frustrated and grow impatient with our reading. Instead we would be satisfied to act accordingly.
-Discourses 4.4.15
Time spent worrying about things other than your own thoughts, actions, or impulses to act is wasted time. It serves no purpose to worry without also formulating some sort of back up plan which would address whatever it is that occupies your mind. Instead, it is imperative to keep your mind and personal nature in agreement with cosmic Nature, accept all which is beyond your influence, and love whatever the outcome may be. The things that are up to you will help you navigate through the things which are not up to you. If you seek control of anything except for your thoughts and deeds, expect to be at perpetual odds with the universe. This does not mean live a placid life; it does mean to life a life in which when your preferred outcome is not met, you make what you can with what Fate gives to you.
—
On Persistence
It is not easy
to reformat your compass
of morality,
especially when
society has trained us
to want the wrong things.
You have spent so long
chasing goals that were promised
to make you happy –
which themselves aren’t good –
and now a tempest rages
as you trudge through it.
You might well be soaked
from this storm which you’ve endured,
but endured you have.
Now – go change your clothes,
warm yourself up and prepare
to get back outside.
This weather won’t turn,
so it’s you who must adapt –
and that will take time.
The true [person] is revealed in difficult times. So when trouble comes, think of yourself as a wrestler whom god, like a trainer, has paired with a tough young buck. For what purpose? To turn you into Olympic-class material. But this is going to take some sweat to accomplish.
-Discourses 1.24.1
What you endure defines you in the same way as your actions, since to endure is an act of courage. And sometimes, that is the best we can do in a situation: especially when it is something someone would consider traumatic or significantly negative in nature. But know this – not everyone can bear the same storm in the same way. This means that a better way to endure can be learned; otherwise if everyone had the same response to an event then it would be out of our control and not worth the time spent worrying about how best to move through an event. To learn how to better weather these downpours, we must first acknowledge the fact that discomfort is a part of life. Come to terms with this, and see that challenges lose some of their edge. The gods do not match any of us with a challenge we are unable to endure.
—
On Assenting
When impressions show,
you’re the only person who
controls your response.
Slow down your thinking
and dissect what your senses
detect or report;
do not trust blindly,
since these organs may mislead
without reflection.
To quickly assent
is to dismiss rationale –
your divinity.
Ask yourself each time,
“What is it virtue demands?
Courage? Temperance?
Justice or wisdom?
How can I respond to this
the way a sage would?”
You are untroubled
Until you decide you’re not.
Be smart with your thoughts.
For a rational nature the right path is to withhold assent to anything false or obscure in the impressions made on its mind, to direct its impulses solely to social action, to reserve its desires and aversions to what lies in our power, and to welcome all that is assigned to it by universal nature.
-Meditations 8.7
Do not agree to something or with someone just because someone has told you it is correct. Use your rationality – your spark of divinity – to process through whatever impressions you come across. This is what separates us from the animals and places us closer to the gods – our ability to examine the world around us, and employ our intellect. We are literally the universe on a mission to understand itself, each of us an instance of Nature, an echo of the cosmos reasoning with itself about itself. This is one of the most beautiful pieces I have come away with during this project.
—
On Premeditatio Malorum
Acknowledge the fact
that dispreferred outcomes are
inevitable.
Cracked phone screens, flat tires,
runaway pets, losing jobs,
breakups, divorce, death –
you will go through these.
Avoid fixating on this,
yet do not forget:
nothing – and no one –
in this life is permanent,
and things will go wrong.
But do not despair!
The point of this exercise
isn’t to wallow;
it is to prepare –
to lessen the sting and shock
when these things occur.
It’s not the result
which causes harm – your judgment
that you’ve been wronged does.
In the case of particular things that delight you, or benefit you, or to which you have grown attached, remind yourself of what they are. Start with things of little value. If it is china you like, for instance, say, ‘I am fond of a piece of china.’ When it breaks, then you won’t be as disconcerted. When giving your [spouse] or child a kiss, repeat to yourself, ‘I am kissing a mortal.’ Then you won’t be so distraught if they are taken from you.
-Enchiridion Ch. 3
Something no one wants to hear is that things will at some point go completely wrong. However, the fact that people don’t want to hear this does exactly nothing to prevent it from being true. The best thing we can do is consider the negative outcomes ahead of time. This should not be done in the form of wishing for them to occur or worrying about the fact that they will – instead, consider gently during the day that, despite your best efforts, things will go the way that they go and there are many things about which you simply have no say in the outcome. We are less surprised by misfortune when we acknowledge that it is as much a part of life as good fortune is.
—
On Complaining
A most futile act
and egregious rebellion
against the cosmos –
to complain is to
state that you know better than
Nature’s reasoning,
to disapprove of
an outcome which did not go
the way you wanted.
Examine those wants;
are they selfish? Are they for
betterment of All?
Can you take action
to change outcomes? Then do that,
and do not complain.
Can you not change things
which are done? Learn to accept,
and do not complain.
Troubles are not bad.
It’s your perception of them
which distresses you.
A [person] is as unhappy as [they have] convinced [themself they are]. And complaining away about one’s sufferings after they are over (you know the kind of language: ‘No one had ever been in such a bad state. The torments and hardships I endured! No one thought I would recover. The number of times I was given up for lost by the family! The number of times I was despaired of by the doctors! A [person] on the rack isn’t torn with pain the way I was’) is something I think should be banned. Even if all this is true, it is past history. What’s the good of dragging up sufferings which are over, of being unhappy now just because you were then? What is more, doesn’t everyone add a good deal to his tale of hardships and deceive himself as well in the matter?
-Letters, LXXVIII
This is the one I think people struggle with the most; at the very least, it is the one that I struggle with most. It is so easy to complain; it is free, it is quick, and it can be cathartic. Are these virtuous aspects of anything, though? Is it courageous to take the quick way to do things? Is it wise to employ catharsis? Is it just to be sour and unappreciative? Is temperance exemplified as our tongues lash out against what fate has granted to us? These are questions that I have begun to ask when I catch myself complaining about anything. Now, there’s a difference between being miffed about something and really, truly complaining. It’s fine (in my non-sage opinion) to have an initial wave of disapproval, but reason and assent should catch that before it turns into a full-blown tirade of complaints.
—
On Death
Contemplate your death.
Do not obsess over it,
but remember it.
As a part of life,
your death deserves some respect
while you can give it.
It will help you see
you’re a part of something grand
outside of yourself,
which will continue
to unfurl far past your time.
Our stay is not long –
make the most of it!
Become a better human;
let go of grudges,
be present always,
love your lot, and above all –
recall that you’ll die.
This should not scare us.
It should encourage us to
live the best we can.
What is death? A scary mask. Take it off – see, it doesn’t bite. Eventually, body and soul will have to separate, just as they existed separately before we were born. So why be upset if it happens now? If it isn’t now, then later. Any why now, if that happens to be the case? To accommodate the world’s cycle; because the world needs things to come into being now, things to come into being later – and it needs things whose time is now complete.
-Discourses 2.1.16 – 18
As much a part of the human experience as life, death holds a special place in my heart. I had an early introduction to it at the age of 10 when my father passed away. I was angry, I was confused. And there is good reason people feel these emotions; we do not really understand death. We know that it is an end of life, but we don’t know what – if anything – happens to our ruling faculty after our body ceases to function. This mysterious nature of death has earned what I would consider a bad rap. Death is simply the next stage of existence; we were dead before we were born, and we will be so again when our time is up. So, we are left with one option – to make the most of this life while we are able to experience it, and the best way to spend it is to rid ourselves of our faults before we take our last breath.
—
On Self-Examination
We know not how much
time we have left in our life.
Could be years, or days.
Make the most of it!
Improving your character
is how to do so.
Recall you’re a part
of the greater human whole.
Do your part to help.
I don’t want these things
if I only get them by
flattering others.
In search of wisdom,
you’ll need to call yourself out
on your shortcomings.
That should not be hard,
since we all have much to learn
about how to live.
So, get to it, then,
by examining yourself
as you do the rest.
This, then, is the beginning of philosophy – an awareness of one’s own mental fitness. Consciousness of its weakness will keep you from tackling difficult subjects. [16] As it is, though, some people strain at a pamphlet and still want to devour an entire treatise. Naturally they can’t digest it, and get heartily sick of the whole business. [17] They need to first figure out what their capacity is. In the realm of logic it is easy to refute someone ignorant of the subject. But in the affairs of life, no one offers himself to be examined, and whoever presumes to examine us we resent. [18] And yet Socrates used to say that the unexamined life was not worth living.
-Discourses 1.26.15-18
It is simpler to judge – or examine – other people because we see them the same way as we see objects, such as a house, a tree, or a vehicle. We see the surface-level version of others, unless we have an intimate relationship with them. Even then, I argue, we don’t know nearly as much about them as we think we do. Likewise, many of us have not taken the time to truly get to know ourselves, which is something we can change. Why spend time theorizing about likelihoods of why others are the way they are when we could instead deal with a much richer, much more tangible, functional, and useful fount of information: who and what are you? Give yourself the treatment – instead of others – and you will find that you’ve got just as much to work on as do other people, and in this case you can actually do something about it instead of finding others’ quirks to judge.
———
Writing these poems has been transformative for me, and has helped to bring Stoic philosophy into my life in a way that is actionable. Being able to start my day with a reminder of what I am hoping to achieve – a life based in virtue, intent, and compassion towards mankind – is something that I hope that everyone reading this would say they’re also working towards in their lives. I wanted something that was steeped in the philosophy without going into the deep end to jump-start my practice each day. My only desire is that people reading these poems gets the same thing out of it that I got from writing them. But hey, that’s not up to me, is it?
If you are interested in starting your journey along the Stoic path, there are a couple of books I recommend checking out before getting into the source material from the three major Roman Stoics:
1. Being Better: Stoicism for World Worth Living In – a very good introduction to the philosophy in a relatively short fashion
2. Breakfast with Seneca – a bit of a deeper dive into Seneca – in my opinion, the most easy-to-read of the three major Roman Stoics (Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus)
———
Author’s Notes
Thank you for your time and for joining me on this small leg of my journey towards being better. It was life changing for me to write these poems, and my only wish is that others find them to be helpful as they navigate the stormy seas and turbulent tides of the cosmos and the human experience.
These poems are from my published poetry book, ‘The Way, Vol. I – Practical Poetry Inspired by Stoicism’:
• On Morality
• On Reflection
• On What Is Up To Us
• On Assenting
• On Death
• On Self-Examination
These poems are from my unpublished poetry book, Vol. II:
• On Persistence
• On Premeditatio Malorum
• On Complaining
Gunther Hammel works in retail and got his Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Small Teams Leadership from the University of Washington. He also accidentally minored in Mathematics because, well, he’s a bit of a nerdy guy. He recently published his first poetry book, “The Way, Vol. I – Practical Poetry Inspired by Stoicism” from which the poems in this article were sourced. More information about the book: https://ghammel.com/way – book description, additional sample poems, photos of physical print
guntherhammel.substack.com – updates regarding upcoming book releases; ongoing discussions about the poems and additional commentary about them; discussions include both released and unreleased poems.
