JAX Exchange - Spring 2026 - Magazine - Page 62

THE PRACTICE OF STOICISM
ANCIENT WISDOM
FOR MODERN CHAOS
Stoicism has endured for over two millennia for a reason:
it works. Not as an abstract philosophy meant for scholars
debating in dusty libraries, but as a practical framework
for navigating the full weight of the human experience.
Today, that ancient wisdom is having a modern moment,
resonating with those seeking clarity and steadiness in an
increasingly complex world.
At The Jacquelyn, we've been exploring this timeless
philosophy through our Stoic Forum, led by Founding
Member, Marcus Meredith, with teaching experience
of over 30 years and has woven Stoic practice deeply
into his life.
Stoicism is imbued with self-discipline, but it also o昀昀ers
self-compassion. You'll make mistakes, but the philosophy
asks you to acknowledge them and move forward. The
wisdom Stoicism o昀昀ers is practical, everyday wisdom
designed to help you live your life the best you can, so
that when challenges arise, you're better equipped to
handle them.
Stoicism has always thrived in di昀케cult times. Its most
famous practitioners faced extraordinary challenges.
Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor who penned
Meditations, one of the most important works in Stoic
philosophy, led an empire through war and plague.
Epictetus, a Greek Stoic philosopher, was born into
slavery and became a revered teacher. These men weren’t
theorizing about hardship; they lived it, and prevailed
through Stoic principles.
One of the most impactful takeaways from the forum
has been journaling, Meredith explains. "It's almost as
if the kinesthetic act of putting thought down on paper
and gaining a feedback loop of thought, see, thought
allows you to then work on your thoughts externally,
and then internalize them again." It's 昀椀tting, considering
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is essentially a collection
of his personal journals, never meant for publication but
surviving over 2,000 years.
The four pillars of Stoicism are: courage, justice,
self-discipline, and wisdom. Stoicism is a philosophy
of action. At its heart, the practice comes down to
one essential insight: recognizing what you control
and what you don't.
For those looking to explore Stoicism further, Meredith
recommends starting with The Obstacle Is the Way by
Ryan Holiday, a Sacramento native, then diving into
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Stoic philosophy,
though, was never about reading the right books. It's
about recognizing what's in your control and taking
action there, guided by courage, justice, self-discipline,
and wisdom.
Many confuse Stoicism with apathy. "Stoicism has right
down through the spine of it, this very large healthy dose
of reality," Meredith explains. "What Stoicism tries to get
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you to do is to understand your emotions and how to
work with, and control them, so that you don’t end up
being a puppet on a string where your emotions pull your
strings." As Seneca, another Stoic philosopher wrote: "It
does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it."
SPRING 2026

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