Is it safe to show emotions at work? Is it good to make business decisions based on emotion? Leave a comment and let's go to the Stoics.
I believe the answer to both is Yes. Many people get this wrong. If you are from planet earth, you have emotions and emotions drive actions and behavior. The trick is in feeling and processing the emotions based on the situation and then regulating the response in a way that contributes rather than contaminates your success and the success of the organization.
The great Stoic philosophers of history believed in acknowledging and processing their emotions, but they also believed in cultivating the ability to control and regulate their emotional responses.
According to the Stoic philosophy, emotions are not inherently good or bad, but rather they are natural responses to external events or circumstances. However, the Stoics believed that we have the power to choose how we respond to these emotions, and that we can learn to regulate and control our emotional reactions.
For example, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus believed that we should acknowledge our emotions but not be controlled by them. He taught that we should focus on what we can control, which is our own thoughts and actions, rather than being overly concerned with external events or circumstances.
Similarly, Marcus Aurelius, another famous Stoic philosopher and Roman emperor, believed that we should strive to cultivate a state of inner peace and tranquility, even in the face of adversity or challenging emotions. He wrote extensively about the importance of mindfulness, self-reflection, and self-control in managing our emotions and living a fulfilling life.
In summary, while the Stoics believed in acknowledging and processing their emotions, they also believed in cultivating the ability to control and regulate their emotional responses. They saw emotional regulation as a key part of living a virtuous and fulfilling life.