Stoicism for Stress Management: A Chicagoan’s Guide

Picture this: You’re standing on the platform at the Clark/Lake station, waiting for the Blue Line. The announcement says “delayed due to mechanical problems,” your phone is buzzing with work notifications, and you’re already late for a meeting. Your chest tightens, your thoughts race, and stress takes over.

What if there was a way to flip that moment—not by changing the delay, but by changing how you respond?

That’s the promise of Stoicism, an ancient philosophy that has become surprisingly relevant for modern life. And for Chicagoans navigating crowded trains, unpredictable weather, and demanding work schedules, Stoicism offers practical tools for stress management.

🏛 What Is Stoicism, Really?

Stoicism was founded in Athens over 2,000 years ago and later embraced by Romans like Marcus Aurelius, who ruled an empire while practicing daily reflection.

At its core, Stoicism teaches:

• Control what you can, accept what you can’t.

• Focus on your inner character, not external chaos.

• Use challenges as opportunities to grow stronger.

Far from being “emotionless,” Stoicism is about cultivating resilience and peace of mind in the middle of life’s storms.

🚇 Stoicism on the CTA

If there’s one place Stoicism shines, it’s the CTA.

• The Delay Test: Marcus Aurelius wrote, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” When the train is late, no amount of anger speeds it up. But you can control your breath, your patience, and maybe even use the time to read or reflect.

• The Crowded Train Test: Stoics practiced empathy. Instead of fuming when someone bumps into you, imagine the whole train as fellow travelers—each with their own stresses. Compassion replaces frustration.

• The Noise Test: Epictetus, a Stoic teacher, reminded his students that irritation often comes from expecting the world to bend to our will. But when we accept noise, inconvenience, or discomfort as part of life, stress loses its grip.

  
  

💼 Stoicism at Work

Chicago is a hard-working city. But with ambition often comes pressure, deadlines, and burnout. Stoicism helps here too:

• Reframe setbacks: Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, treat them as teachers. A tough client or rejected pitch becomes training in patience and adaptability.

• Focus on the process: Like athletes, Stoics cared about effort more than results. If you give your best at work, the outcome is secondary.

• Daily reflection: Marcus Aurelius journaled each morning and night. Five minutes of reflection can shift a stressful day into an opportunity for growth.

  
  

🌆 Living Stoically in the City

Chicago life can feel overwhelming—traffic on the Kennedy, biting winds off the lake, juggling relationships and responsibilities. Stoicism doesn’t erase stress, but it reshapes how we meet it.

Try these Stoic practices for Chicago life:

1. Negative visualization: Imagine the worst-case scenario briefly—missing a train, losing a deal—then appreciate that the present isn’t as bad as it could be.

2. Pause before reacting: Count to three before honking, yelling, or hitting send on that email.

3. Live with purpose: Ask each morning, What is within my control today? How can I live with virtue?

   
   

✨ Why It Matters Now

We live in a world of constant notifications, political polarization, and everyday pressures. Stoicism reminds us that peace isn’t found in controlling the world, but in mastering our response to it.

For Chicagoans, that means seeing the delays, the crowds, and even the winter winds not as enemies—but as teachers.

💡 A Call to Reflection

Next time you’re stuck on the Red Line or facing a stressful day at work, remember the Stoics. Pause. Breathe. Ask: What’s in my control? What’s not?

That simple shift could change not just your commute, but your entire outlook on life.

👉 Curious to dive deeper? Join us at nachicago.org for a free class at New Acropolis Chicago, where we explore how ancient wisdom can bring clarity, resilience, and meaning to modern city life.