Home
"Do you think you're the only one who has felt this way? Are you so surprised, as if it’s something new, that after all your traveling and changes of scenery, you still can’t shake off the gloom and heaviness in your mind? What you need is a change of mindset, not just a change of location. You can cross vast oceans and leave behind lands and cities, but your problems will follow you wherever you go."
"Socrates pointed this out to someone who complained about their travels: 'Why are you surprised that traveling doesn’t help you when you’re always bringing yourself along? The reason you’re restless is because you carry it with you.'"
- Lucius Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, Letter 28: On Travel as a Cure for Discontentment
Whenever I read Stoics like Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus, I'm struck by the fact that these men, living thousands of years ago, had learned something on an empirical level that most religions jump to instill through allegory, dogma, and mysticism.
What's also interesting is they came from different upbringings and lived very different lives, yet came to similar conclusions on how to live "the good life". Seneca tutored Nero from a young age and was ultimately sentenced to death by his crazed pupil - an end he faced with Socrates-level courage. Marcus Aurelius was a benevolent emperor who defied the adage that "ultimate power corrupts absolutely", living a disciplined and principled life that Cincinnatus would probably have approved of. Epictetus, once a slave, mastered himself and upon his manumission used his freedom to teach others the difference between what is within our control and what is not.
Everything about their advice is balanced and well-reasoned. For example, while Seneca agrees that monetary wealth is not the source of happiness, he points out that a wise man does not avoid its accumulation; he simply is content whether he has it or not. Marcus Aurelius emphasized the importance of virtue over external success, yet did not shy from the public eye, as he also believed in fulfilling one's duties with integrity, stating that true fulfillment comes from acting in accordance with nature and reason. Epictetus taught that freedom is found not in external circumstances but in mastering one's own mind, highlighting that true contentment arises from focusing on what we can control.
In my travels, I have thought a lot about where "home" is for me. The Stoics teach us that home is a state of mind. It is not defined by physical walls or geographical locations but by the tranquility and stability we cultivate within ourselves. As Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations, "Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul." This inner sanctuary is built through self-reflection, acceptance, and aligning our lives with virtue and rationality.
In embracing these Stoic principles, we learn that the journey to finding "home" begins within us. By focusing on our inner world and nurturing our character, we can find peace and belonging no matter where life takes us.
If you are interested in Stoicism, there are many books that offer an introduction, but if you want my advice, jumping straight to the source is the best. Modern translations are great, they are very readable, but you'll probably find yourself re-reading certain portions to fully understand the points. Some selected readings (which can all be obtained for free via e-readers):
Letters from a Stoic, Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger
Meditations, Marcus Aurelius
Enchiridion, Epictetus