Stoicism strikes deeply into our very psychology, with four core principles.

• Wisdom

• Courage

• Justice

• Temperance

Why are these "virtues" or core principles so important?

The Stoic virtues provide a simple guide for a principled life. An easily understood compass.

Wisdom is not the capacity for knowledge, but the understanding of when and how to exercise knowledge. Without wisdom, our principled action fails to achieve effective results. Our principles are a paper tiger if we don't learn the wisdom to be effective.

Courage is the pursuit of what is right, despite threat of suffering or death. Inherently, courage is something we value. The hero myth and all stories at some level, revolve around courage. Absent the courage to stand in times of adversity, we can only progress in fair weather and fortunate circumstances.

Justice is our pursuit of equality or fairness. Success in life means nothing if we lack justice. It serves us and our goals, at the expense of others.

Temperance is self-restraint, self-discipline. It reigns in our instinct to deviate from our principles when interests conflict. Temperance is keeping our vices and habits from controlling our decisions and actions.

These four virtues provide a foundation that we respect. One that we aspire to, no matter what our goals in life are.

We all struggle to find purpose in life. Finding a compass that points us in the right direction. Stoicism offers an anchor in life - a set of principles that serve as a solid foundation.

Inherently, we know the Stoic virtues to be valuable. We don't need evidence or proof. They are self-evident.

That is why Stoicism is a great start to anyone's journey. A solid anchor for heavy storms, while we chart a path forwards. 🚢⚓️