Epicurean philosophy succeeded in influencing philosophers such as John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche and even Thomas Jefferson. Although times have changed, there are many ways we can apply Epicurean thinking in the modern world. Here are a few of them:
Be grateful for what you have
The main theme of Epicurean philosophy is to live within your means and enjoy what you have. Be grateful for the people around you and the good things in your life. If you’re constantly looking for the next big thing, you start ignoring what you have and what brings you happiness.
Try to limit your greed
Living in simplicity means we should always strive not to be greedy. In the fast-paced, technology-heavy world we live in, we are constantly faced with new things. The ads emphasize that the old model should be updated and we should definitely have the latest version. We know this is not true. We are lucky to have what we already enjoy. You don’t need more.
Take pleasure in moderation
We all spend time on things like eating too much and living in luxury. While it is not a bad thing to enjoy every part of life, moderation is important. Do not think that the further you get away from luxury, the less pleasure you will get. It is the less good parts of our lives that make the good parts of our lives better.
Spend time with friends and family
Epicurean philosophy focuses on community, friends and family. It’s important to build this community and keep them close to you. Having people you love around you makes life more fun. It’s easy to lose touch with loved ones, but take the time to call them and get together. When you surround yourself with people you love, you will need less of everything to be happy.
