Don't Worry - Be Happy

 

If you are old enough – keep in mind the 80s were 40 years ago – just hearing the words “don’t worry, be happy” will trigger musical memories and an almost compulsive desire to sing “Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy!”  Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 Reggae Acapella hit that ended up winning the Grammy for Song of the Year and topped an insane number of charts was everywhere and in its ubiquitous presence was described as a formula for facing life’s trials.

Granted, Village Voice also called it one of the worst songs ever, but seriously, what do they know.

Lyrical issues aside, there is something … stoic … about the song.  Don’t worry – be happy.  The Stoics through its many philosophers explored the many facets of virtue and the importance of virtue as the sole approach to happiness.  Which is just a fancy way of saying that indeed the goal of life is happiness.  According to the Daily Stoic: “It's the pursuit of virtue and good character that allows us to experience eudaimonia—happiness, flourishing, the good life.”

The Stoics believed that worry about external events or outcomes is counterproductive to virtue and that cultivating a mindset focused on what is within one's control leads to a more virtuous and fulfilled life.  Epictetus, for example, wrote, "We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them." This idea reflects the Stoic principle of focusing on what is within our control—our own attitudes and actions—rather than expending energy on things we cannot change.

Worry about the past and anxiety about the future are distractions.  It is not as much virtuous to avoid worry, as difficult to live virtuously while being held back by worry and anxiety.  Much will be said and written about the stoic ideas on virtue and its real-life applications – for example how justice is one of the four main virtues and especially applicable to the legal profession – but the first step has to be to learn how to give yourself a fighting chance.

The stoic approach to worry and anxiety is straightforward: if you cannot control it, don’t worry about it.  Stoicism encourages rational thinking and reasoning. Worry is often associated with irrational fears or concerns about the future.  By training oneself to let go of worry and accept the uncertainties of life, Stoics aim to build emotional resilience. This resilience allows individuals to navigate challenges with a clear and composed mind, making it easier to make rational decisions and act virtuously.  By accepting what cannot be changed and focusing on virtuous actions, Stoics believe individuals can maintain a sense of calmness even in the face of external challenges.

This is not what modern society teaches.  Accordingly, following this path will require unlearning what we are used to – anticipating negatives and worrying about them, living in the past and dwelling on mistakes and perceived slights.  Shifting your life’s approach to one of a true stoic path is difficult and will take time.  But start simply: it’s ok to don’t worry and be happy.  One of my favorite maxims is that you cannot control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.  This starts with letting go of the anchor of worry. 

The wind is not in charge of your destination – you are.

Epictetus, Esq