Using Stoic philosophy to cope with the 2023 Cardinals

Sure, the tools of Stoicism are intended for things of greater importance than a struggling baseball team, but no one can stop us from doing this

I’m not under the illusion that “my favorite team is not good” is any kind of genuine human crisis. If this is your leading problem at any given moment, then your existence is a graced one. However, those qualifiers notwithstanding, we’re going to talk about coping with what’s in line to be the worst Cardinals season in more than a century. 

Several years ago, I got into Stoicism. It’s a philosophical school of thought that dates back to the ancient Greeks but is rife with modern practicality and applications, mostly because it helps you build emotional resilience. Initially my exploration and eventual devotion to Stoic practices took the form of reading foundational works by philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, and later I began doing guided meditations informed by the first principles of Stoicism. It’s that latter practice, mindfulness meditation, that is still very much with me and, to be frank, has improved my life. These days, the school of thought has become a sort of buzzy lifehack for “Silicon Valley careerist” types, and, suffice it to say, those are not my people. I don’t let this bother me because – Stoic principle forthcoming – what Silicon Valley careerists do is beyond my power.  

Stoicism is a tool for me, not a religion. I’m not praying or making burnt offerings to Seneca The Younger. Rather, I use it to cultivate a mindset that helps me navigate the occasionally treacherous shoals of modern existence. Lest this start sounding like evangelism, please know that I’m only going on about this in order to talk about the 2023 Cardinals and how to fend off the emotional afflictions they have unleashed upon us. Yes, people – too many people – have problems of actual importance, but Stoicism can aid us in matters ranging in consequence from a terminal diagnosis to a sports team that is serving as a reliable source of low-grade chagrin. 

What follows is not an exhaustive list of applied Stoic principles, but these are ones that stand out to me as relevant to the matter at hand. If you wish, don your tunic and winged sandals of Hermes and assume the lotus position before we begin. Now that you are ready, let us allow Stoicism to bring the 2023 Cardinals to heel.