Stoicism for the Modern Athlete
In a world saturated with advice on mindset, wellness and mindfulness, it can be difficult to discern what truly moves the needle. As a practising Stoic and performance coach, I’ve found that Stoicism cuts through the noise with concrete practices that genuinely improve both life and athletic performance.
Why is this philosophy so powerful? Because it grounds you in reality, emphasising what you can control and letting go of what you can’t. That shift in focus frees up energy to train harder, recover better and show up consistently.
Consistency Compounds
Consistency is your greatest ally. When you show up day after day, week after week, the effects compound. Time doesn’t stop for anyone — the weeks, months and years will pass regardless. The question is whether you’re building momentum or staying stagnant.
Seneca put it well: “Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day.”
- Take action daily — build habits that snowball over time.
- Pause each evening and ask yourself: did I move the needle even slightly closer to where I want to go?
- Embrace the gradual transformation: day in, day out, you become someone who always moves forward — sometimes a lot, sometimes just a little, but never standing still.
Complaining Solves Nothing
A core tenet of Stoicism is that complaining is wasted energy. Marcus Aurelius phrased it succinctly: “How unfortunate it happened? No. How fortunate it happened to you and you remain unharmed.”
Life will always throw obstacles your way. Unless your arm is literally chopped off, you’re okay. Don’t squander precious resources on negative self‑talk.
Picture this: your gym session is scheduled for 6 PM. Today you’re delayed and won’t start until 7 PM. You’re tempted to skip it. The Stoic mindset kicks in: no one is coming to save you, and no one else will achieve your goals for you. So you stop complaining — and you get on with it.
The Pursuit of Arete
Another Stoic principle that drives consistency is arete — the pursuit of excellence and fulfilling your potential. When you’re born, you have a ceiling of potential. When you die, you want to get as close to that ceiling as possible.
- Arete frees you from comparison. You’re not competing with the person beside you or behind you — you’re competing with yourself, maximising what’s in your control.
- Think of it as the Japanese concept of kaizen: small, steady improvement, 1% better every day.
- Epictetus reminds us: “Devote the rest of your life to making progress.” Not by burning the candle at both ends, but through disciplined progress — even moderation requires discipline.
Why This Matters for Athletes
If you want to improve athletic performance, get in shape or simply become better, caring for your body is one of the best starting points. Consistency with your sleep, nutrition and training doesn’t just improve your fitness — it carries over into every part of life.
- Being disciplined in the gym makes you more disciplined in your work, relationships and studies.
- Focus on improving yourself, not proving yourself — show up for you and be accountable to you.
- Remember: the body follows the mind. A resilient mindset produces a resilient athlete.