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Four Elements of Stoicism

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • 13 minutes ago
  • 5 min read

 

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

 

One source succinctly states of Stoicism, “It’s a philosophy designed to make us more resilient, happier, more virtuous and more wise—and as a result, better people, better parents and better professionals.” Providing his own view of this matter, Marcus Aurelius stated (page 349):

 

“Our rational nature moves freely forward in its impressions when it:

1) accepts nothing false or uncertain;

2) directs its impulses only to acts for the common good;

3) limits its desires and aversions only to what’s in its own power;

4) embraces everything nature assigns it.”

 

While I concur with Aurelius’ third element (one of the necessary data or values on which calculations or conclusions are based), I reject the other components. To assess my rationale, you’re welcome to click the above-provided links. Alternatively, the authors state (page 349):

 

If you notice, Marcus repeatedly reminds himself what Stoicism is. These bullet points are helpful to those of us reading thousands of years later, but really they were intended to be helpful to him. Maybe that day he had accepted a bad impression or had acted selfishly.

 

Maybe he had pinned his hopes on something outside his control or complained and fought against something that had happened. Or maybe it had just been awhile since he’d thought about these things and wanted a reminder.

 

I can appreciate that Aurelius reminded himself about the four elements of Stoicism which were useful to him. Even though I disagree with some of his prescriptions, I like that Aurelius scribed his own personal code of conduct. Of this topic, authors of The Daily Stoic conclude (page 349):

 

Whatever his case was, or whatever ours is today, let’s align our minds along these four critical habits:

 

1. Accept only what is true.

2. Work for the common good.

3. Match our needs and wants with what is in our control.

4. Embrace what nature has in store for us.

 

Even with restructuring of Aurelius’ four elements of Stoicism, number three is all that I practice. How about you? Do all components appeal to you? Do any of these elements seem unreasonable? I invite you to consider this topic, asking what you believe and why you believe it.

 

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW


Photo credit, Designed by Magnific, fair use

 

References:

 

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). What is Stoicism? A definition & 9 Stoic exercises to get you started. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/what-is-stoicism-a-definition-3-stoic-exercises-to-get-you-started/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2026, June 16). A fountain of goodness: Subjective and objective views. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-fountain-of-goodness-subjective-and-objective-views

Hollings, D. (2023, September 13). Acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/acceptance

Hollings, D. (2025, December 29). Be a better you. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/be-a-better-you

Hollings, D. (2026, July 15). Both hope and fear contain a dangerous amount of want and worry in them. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/both-hope-and-fear-contain-a-dangerous-amount-of-want-and-worry-in-them

Hollings, D. (2026, February 19). Conclusions in search of rationale. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/conclusions-in-search-of-rationale

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Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2026, June 27). Enabling sick people to just become selfish psychopaths. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/enabling-sick-people-to-just-become-selfish-psychopaths

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

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Hollings, D. (2026, June 11). Shaping: Force of habit – No rewarding bad behavior! Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/shaping-force-of-habit-no-rewarding-bad-behavior

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (2026, July 12). Grievance: Complaining and explaining. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/grievance-complaining-and-explaining

Hollings, D. (2024, September 24). Happy place. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/happy-place

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2026, June 12). Human nature: How you live makes a difference. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/human-nature-how-you-live-makes-a-difference

Hollings, D. (2026, April 8). Impermanence and uncertainty: I don’t know where tomorrow will take me. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/impermanence-and-uncertainty-i-don-t-know-where-tomorrow-will-take-me

Hollings, D. (2026, April 26). Impulse. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/impulse

Hollings, D. (2026, February 8). Is It Desire, or Is It Love? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/is-it-desire-or-is-it-love

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2025, November 25). Logos and natural order. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logos-and-natural-order

Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth

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Hollings, D. (2026, May 15). Owning up to personal and collective codes of conduct. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/owning-up-to-personal-and-collective-codes-of-conduct

Hollings, D. (2025, September 19). Power. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/power

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2025, September 20). Putting our impressions to the test. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/putting-our-impressions-to-the-test

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2025, August 13). Rational versus irrational thoughts and beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-versus-irrational-thoughts-and-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, October 8). Rationale. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rationale

Hollings, D. (2024, May 22). Reasoning with the unreasonable. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/reasoning-with-the-unreasonable

Hollings, D. (2024, May 8). Resilience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/resilience

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Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2025, October 6). The common good. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-common-good

Hollings, D. (2026, May 15). The speed of thoughts and beliefs: Flipping the bird. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-speed-of-thoughts-and-beliefs-flipping-the-bird

Hollings, D. (2026, April 23). The three traditionally identified components of the mind: Affect, cognition, and conation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-three-traditionally-identified-components-of-the-mind-affect-cognition-and-conation

Hollings, D. (2025, November 9). The true measure of wisdom. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-true-measure-of-wisdom

Hollings, D. (2023, May 3). Want vs. need. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/want-vs-need

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Marcus Aurelius. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday

© 2024 by Hollings Therapy, LLC 

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