Too Passionate

I have always been very passionate, as is not uncommon for those of us primarily of Gaelic ancestry.

Still, the idea of stoic indifference has some appeal. It is not something I am an expert on it or will ever achieve, but it is an ideal that may buffer us from unhappiness or strengthen us to endure all that life throws at us. When one is stoically indifferent, one is dispassionate, even disinterested to what is happening to one. One has gained his desired emotional end or psychic state: that  one is emotionally controlled, not too pleased or too pained by appears before one, neither ecstatic when what comes is pleasurable, nor abased by horror and dejection in response to painful or awful, unfolding events. To be a moderate emotionally is somewhat similar to stoic indifference. The mature, psychologically healthy adult will be more logical than emotional, more dispassionate than passionate, more self-moderating in rational and deliberate in reaction to what appears, than uncontrolled, to emotional with highs and lows, and too spontaneous and impulsive regarding upsetting, sudden inputs.

To be able to strengthen one's will and psyche in such a way as one does not overreact or under-react emotionally to what is going on in the world out there. As an ethical ideal, a wise indifference can be a fine way to live and know peace and happiness.

Some obvious drawbacks Stoicism are: one must be alive and activistic, not just accepting and surrendering to whatever happens to one as a being in the natural world. As industrious, creative individuals, humans are to imitate these traits hallmarked by the Good Spirits. Remember, a fatalist is not obeying natural law, more often than not.

God gave us natural law to live by, but God also alter and makes new natural laws. We are allowed, even expected to change what happen around us to make our lives better, more appealing, more rewarding and more satisfying. Just make sure as junior law-makers that so doing does not flout the will and aims of the Law-giver. If that happens, we have sinned and passed over into being breakers of natural law.

Being stoic does not mean that one is allowed to be uncaring or uninterested. Being stoic does not mean that one is emotionally stunted, unfeeling or dead like a rock. Being stoic does mean wielding a will that is rational, disciplined and self-controlled, and emotional displays must be consistent with that standard of moderate excellence in character.