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Stoicism: Living in Harmony with Nature

Living in Harmony with Nature: Learning Stoicism in Everyday Life

I firmly believe that God created everything in the universe with a purpose. Everything has its role. Animals that lack reason or intellect, equipped only with instincts and desires, also play their part. Take, for example, a snake in a rice field: it preys on rats, which are pests to crops. However, we sometimes hear about snakes preying on livestock.

Even so, the snake is merely fulfilling its role as a creature driven by hunting instincts. It lives in harmony with nature.

Humans, on the other hand, have a greater role. Regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion, we are endowed with reason and intellect in addition to desires. Our intellect acts as the "brake" for our desires. Even negative emotions and feelings can be managed through reasoning.

Image: Illustration of humans using their intellect

In the core principle of Stoicism, the only thing that sets humans apart from animals is reason and intellect. Naturally, humans are designed to use their reason to distinguish between good and bad. A snake, for example, relies solely on its instincts—sometimes helping humans by preying on pests in the fields, but at other times, it may also harm them by preying on livestock.

But if we fail to use our reason, are we truly living in harmony with nature? How are we any different from animals if we live merely based on instinct or desires?

As a parent, I often find myself facing this test. Honestly, I sometimes let my emotions take over when dealing with my child’s behavior. He is only five years old as I write this. His toys are often scattered all over the room. Once, a glass fell and shattered because he accidentally bumped into it.

However, upon reflection, my child is only five years old. There is so much he doesn’t yet understand, and his reasoning is not as developed as that of an adult. It is I, as the parent, who should use reason and intellect to guide him in the right way—not through anger.

If I get angry without clear justification, then I am the one failing to live in harmony with nature. That means I have ignored the reason and intellect God has bestowed upon me. Embarrassing, isn’t it?

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Lokasi: Amerika Serikat

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