5 Ways to Manage Anger Using Stoicism

Ancient philosophy—it’s the future!  Or at least it’s currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity.  That started back in the 1960s with the development of what was to become modern cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).  CBT originally drew inspiration from an ancient Greek philosophy called Stoicism, which—believe it or not!—developed its own therapeutic concepts and techniques 2,300 years ago.  Now CBT is the leading evidence-based form of psychotherapy and its growing popularity and influence over the past half-century has helped to ignite interest in the philosophy that came before it—the great-grandaddy of modern self-help literature.

The Stoic school of philosophy was founded in Athens at the end of the fourth century BC and it survived for nearly 500 years.  The Stoics drew heavily upon the earlier teachings of Socrates. However, they focused mainly on the practical side of his philosophy.  They were interested in how philosophical concepts and related psychological strategies could be used to develop greater self-discipline and emotional resilience.  

Stoicism’s most famous adherent was the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who died in 180 AD.  (You might have seen Richard Harris portraying Marcus in the Hollywood movie Gladiator.)  His personal journal of philosophical reflections, The Meditations, is still one of the most widely-read spiritual and self-help classics today.  It contains dozens of examples of psychological exercises employed by the emperor to maintain his inner sense of equanimity throughout the Marcomannic War he was fighting along the banks of the River Danube, against hordes of invading barbarian tribes.

Marcus Aurelius famously struggled to control his own temper. He returns to this problem time and time again in his book as he reminds himself of various ideas that he’s found helpful in managing anger.  At one point he actually lists 10 Stoic anger management strategies, which he describes as “gifts from Apollo,” the god of healing. Here are five of them:

Strategy #1: Remember that you’re not perfect either.  

The Stoics thought it was important for us to recognize our own flaws.  When someone offends you, pause and ask yourself whether you perhaps do similar things yourself, or at least have the potential to do things that others might find offensive.  When you point a finger in blame at another person, as therapists like to say, you...

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