Sophrosyne
In search of peace and balance in a time of Coronavirus.
In ancient Greece, sophrosyne referred to excellence of character and soundness of mind in a well-balanced individual.
This complex ideal has no direct translation into English. Its roots suggest a bringing together (syne) of the qualities of wisdom (sophia).
Sophrosyne insists on the idea of happiness (in a proper philosophic sense) derived from:
temperance in desires, "nothing in excess"
self-awareness, "know thyself"
modesty (self-confident humility, the opposite of arrogance)
relatedness to the whole of self and society
respect for excellence
respect for human nature, its limits, and its balance
self-restrained freedom
obedience to the laws of harmony and proportion
love of truth, beauty, and goodness
wisdom (clear discernment based on broad knowledge, including self knowledge)
the qualities giving rise to true charm and charisma
One of the ways many of the above virtues can be achieved is through a consistent practice of mindfulness - or, in short, learning to be present in all you do. Throughout lockdown, I’ve noticed an uptick in videos with an emphasis on hygge (below) aesthetics along with lofi chillhop or relaxing jazz piano.
While COVID-19-related lockdown measures have raised quite a few red flags regarding long-term isolation and its impact on mental health, the silver lining in all of this is the introspection we’ve all needed as a collective.
Along with trying to achieve a sense of sophrosyne, I’ve found hygge-esque videos on YouTube along with creative journaling have certainly helped maintain a sense of tranquility in uncertain times.
It’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of the ongoing pandemic. From being separated from loved ones to ongoing socioeconomic strife, the looming clouds are unpleasant. But Viktor Frankl would probably argue that the key to survival in difficult times is looking for purpose and meaning.
In his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Frankl’s training as a psychiatrist allowed him a unique perspective on the psychology of survival and basic human motivation. It forever changed the way we understand our humanity in the face of suffering.
Frankl stated in his book, “Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it…success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think about it.”
In short, it’s important to find your motivations in order to survive the worst of personal and global events. And we must live in a way that suggests the end goal has been achieved. So, what does your end goal look like? What would your version of a happier home, relationship, or world look like?
For me, on a base level, I miss a lot of the little things that were easily taken for granted. I miss sitting in a café while writing and people watching. Mindfulness and presence was already in practice, but the energy of people buzzing about was also a form of joy. I didn’t have to interact with anyone, but I treasured being a quiet observer while listening to music and enjoying a nice cappuccino. On occasion during lockdown, this’ll often be on our TV in the living room:
While it’s easy to get caught up in every horrific event going on in the world, self-care is a must. Sure, there’s a lot of ugliness and injustice on our blue dot in the universe, but there’s a lot of beauty as well. In terms of what I was grateful for - and now miss immensely - is travel. So, something like this is also likely to be on our TV as we make dinner:
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
In bleak times, it’s imperative to find your purpose and hold onto it mindfully, in the present. We can’t change the past, and fretting about the future can sap our energy, but we can be here now in the best way possible.
While the future looks uncertain, it’s encouraged - now more than ever - to find your peace whenever and wherever you can. In search of sophrosyne, incorporating hygge makes sense.
Enjoying the little things that bring us joy, practicing mindfulness, and maintaining a sense of gratitude wherever we find it has certainly helped me find a sense of balance in quite an imbalanced time.
What brings you a sense of balance and peace? Need a little help? Check out the tips in the video below:
