Stoicism changed over the centuries; the earliest writings were very mystical, and focused on living in harmony with a world guided by Zeus. To the early Stoics, all was good, IF seen from the proper perspective, and this belief never really disappeared.
However, this is not what is really essential. If you read Epictetus, you will see far more emphasis on choices, and on the topic of desires and aversions. A rational Stoicism can be summed up in this way:
1. Life entails suffering--meaning mental anguish, not physical pain.
2. Suffering arises when one's desires--and aversions--are thwarted.
3. To end all suffering, obtain everything you desire.
4. To obtain everything you desire, learn to desire only that which is within your control.
What is within our control? Certainly not wealth, health, reputation, power, family, etc. These are external to us, controlled by others, or chance, not by us. What do we control? Three things:
1. No one can prevent you from affirming a true statement.
2. No one can prevent you from denying a false statement.
3. No one can prevent you from acting according to your moral principles.
Yes, there may be consequences to our actions, and yes, like Socrates, we may have to 'drink the hemlock,' but the actions are ours. They are within our control. Who can stop you, other than yourself, from doing any of the three things I mentioned?
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