Maya and the Magic Circle

Stoicism 

Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens around 300 BC. It emphasizes the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions; the duty to perform one's role in society according to reason; and the acceptance of the happenstance of external events as a condition of virtuous action.

Opens in a new window

en.wikipedia.org

Zeno of Citium, founder of Stoicism

Stoicism is a philosophy of life that emphasizes living in accordance with reason and virtue. It teaches that happiness can be achieved by accepting what we cannot control and focusing on what we can control – our thoughts, actions, and reactions.

The core tenets of Stoicism are:

Virtue is the only good. This means that the only things that are truly valuable are the qualities of our character, such as wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance.

External things are indifferent. This means that things like wealth, fame, health, and pleasure are not good or bad in themselves. They are simply things that happen to us in life.

We should live in accordance with nature. This means that we should live in harmony with the natural world and accept what is beyond our control.

Stoicism has been practiced by many famous people throughout history, including Roman emperors, philosophers, and playwrights. Some of the most famous Stoics include Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus.

Stoicism can be a helpful philosophy for dealing with the challenges of life. It can teach us to be more resilient in the face of adversity, to control our emotions, and to live more meaningful lives.

Can you put this discussion into a story to teach children ages 8 to 10? 

Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Alex who loved playing soccer. He practiced every day and dreamed of becoming the star striker on his school team. But during one important game, Alex missed a crucial goal. He felt a hot wave of anger surge through him. He stomped his foot and argued with the referee, even though his teammates tried to calm him down.

Later that night, Alex couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned, replaying the missed goal in his head. His dad, seeing the worry on his face, sat by his bedside.

"What's troubling you, Alex?" his dad asked gently.

Alex pouted. "I messed up the game. Everyone must think I'm a terrible player!"

His dad smiled. "Alex, there's an old idea called Stoicism that can help you in situations like this."

Intrigued, Alex sat up in bed. "Stoicism? What's that?"

His dad explained, "Imagine there's a circle around you. Inside the circle are the things you can control, like your effort, your attitude, and how you react to things. Outside the circle are things you can't control, like the calls the referee makes or the way your teammates play."

Alex thought for a moment. "So, missing the goal was outside the circle?"

"Exactly," his dad said. "You practiced hard and gave it your best shot. That's what matters. Getting upset about the miss is outside the circle. It won't change what happened."

The next day, Alex remembered his dad's words. During practice, he focused on his passes and kicks, and he even encouraged his teammates when they felt discouraged. He realized that feeling good about himself and being a good sport were things he could control, and that was more important than a single missed goal.

Even when he didn't score the winning goal in the next game, Alex didn't get upset. He knew he had played his best and that was all that mattered. He high-fived his teammates and congratulated the other team.

From that day on, Alex faced challenges with a calmer mind. He focused on the things he could control, like his effort and attitude, and learned to accept the things he couldn't, like the outcome of a game. And guess what? By focusing on what he could control, Alex actually became a much better player, because he wasn't wasting energy on getting upset!

Can you make the child character a girl? 

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Maya who lived and breathed soccer. She practiced every day, dreaming of becoming the star striker on her school team. During one big game, Maya missed a crucial goal. Disappointment washed over her, hot and prickly. She slumped her shoulders and kicked the ground in frustration, even though her teammates tried to cheer her up.

Later that night, Maya couldn't stop thinking about the missed goal. She kicked at her blankets, the whole scene replaying in her head. Her dad peeked in, seeing the worry etched on her face.

"Hey there, slugger," he said softly. "What's keeping you up?"

Maya mumbled, "I messed up the game. Everyone must think I'm a horrible player!"

Her dad sat on the edge of her bed. "Maya," he said, "there's this old idea called Stoicism that can help you in situations like this."

Maya's curiosity piqued. "Stoicism? Sounds fancy. What is it?"

Her dad smiled. "Imagine a big circle around you. Inside the circle are the things you can control, like how hard you practice, your attitude, and how you react to things. Outside the circle are things you can't control, like the referee's calls or how the other team plays."

Maya scrunched up her nose. "So, missing the goal was outside the circle?"

"Exactly," her dad said. "You practiced like crazy and gave it your all on the field. That's what truly matters. Getting upset about the miss is outside the circle. It won't change what happened."

The next day, Maya held onto her dad's words. During practice, she focused on her dribbling and shooting, even giving encouraging high-fives to her teammates who missed a shot. She realized that feeling good about herself and being a supportive teammate were things she could control, and that was more important than a single missed goal.

Even when Maya didn't score the winning goal in the next game, she didn't let disappointment win. She knew she played her best and that was all that mattered. She clapped for her teammates and congratulated the other team with a smile.

From that day on, Maya faced challenges with a calmer head. She concentrated on the things she could control, like her effort and sportsmanship, and learned to accept the things she couldn't, like the final score. And guess what? By focusing on what she could control, Maya actually became a much stronger player, because she wasn't wasting energy on getting upset!

Can you give the story a title? 

Maya and the Magic Circle