Ambition vs. Contentment: A Stoic Guide to Finding Balance

Hello, Happy Learners!

Let’s chat about ambition and work ethic for a minute. Ambition is like a firework show in the sky—brilliant, attention-grabbing, and probably over far too quickly for its own good. But there’s a catch to this glamorous glow. For many of us, ambition pairs too well with a side of anxiety and guilt. If we dare “settle for less,” are we not working hard enough? Are we letting ambition down?

I get it. I used to feel like I had to hustle for every “more” there was. If I wasn’t aiming for the moon, I was just a lazy stargazer, right? Well, I struggled to sit with the idea that you could be ambitious and content at the same time, but after many re-reads of Seneca and Epictetus, a lightbulb clicked on.

The Real Target of Ambition

“True happiness is… to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.” This pearl of wisdom comes from Seneca in Letters from a Stoic (Epistle 18). He invites us to realize that ambition and work ethic should serve contentment, not undermine it. Our goals shouldn't revolve around private jets, fancy yachts, or a resume full of bragging rights.

Instead, let's use our ambition to work towards and sustain something meaningful. Picture the "core four" values: love, connection, health, and reflection. Your ambition can drive you to invest more in family time, improve your relationships, stay fit, and reflect deeply on your personal growth. That’s a trophy case worth filling!

Putting in the Work

So how do we apply ambition and hard work to align with those core values? Here are a few ideas:

1. Love: Ambitiously make time for family, friends, or that one neighbor who swears they invented cold brew coffee. Love fiercely. Whether it's giving a thoughtful gift or sharing a belly laugh, these are the riches that last.

2. Connection: Strengthen your network. Dive into a heartfelt conversation that goes beyond weather and weekend plans. Listen intently and show up meaningfully.

3. Health: Harness that relentless work ethic to improve your physical and mental health. Walks in nature, exercise, a balanced diet—small changes can have big impacts.

4. Reflection: Dedicate time to learning, reading, writing, and meditating. Marcus Aurelius once said in Meditations (Book 3, Paragraph 13), “Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it—turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself—so too a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal.”

Ambition and strong work ethic can help us become more intentional, humble, and open to life's simple joys. We can put in the work to make good choices, not by aspiring for luxury, but by focusing on life’s free gifts: a morning walk, a good book, or a rich conversation. So Happy Learners, it’s time to embrace the balance and celebrate both ambition and contentment. Let’s work hard, stay grounded, and keep finding joy in life’s true treasures!