Stoicism Is the New Snake Oil — And You’re Buying It

I used to think Stoicism was the key to life. The ultimate mental hack. The wisdom of emperors and slaves, condensed into neat little packages of resilience, discipline, and self-mastery. I read Meditations, I devoured YouTube videos, I soaked up every modern interpretation of ancient wisdom.

And then, I woke up.

The Stoic Industrial Complex

Stoicism today isn’t a philosophy — it’s an industry. A relentless, content-churning machine designed to sell you self-help in a toga. Everywhere you look, someone is selling you Stoicism as the answer: the secret to success, the antidote to anxiety, the mindset of the ultra-wealthy. Books, courses, newsletters, coaching programs. It’s a billion-dollar market disguised as ancient wisdom.

But here’s the truth: modern Stoicism has been repackaged as a feel-good drug for the productivity-obsessed. It’s not about philosophy anymore; it’s about monetizing your desire for control.

And you’re eating it up.

“Control Your Emotions” Is a Lie

The modern Stoic pitch is simple: control your emotions, control your life. Sounds great in theory. But in reality, it’s a neatly marketed, hyper-intellectualized way to deny your own humanity.

Emotions aren’t optional. They’re not buttons you can switch on and off with enough mental discipline. They are the raw material of existence. Your anger, your sadness, your frustration are not weaknesses to be conquered. They are signals to be understood.

Stoicism, when taken too far, numbs you. It turns people into emotionally constipated automatons who believe that by suppressing their feelings, they are somehow transcending them. But life isn’t just about enduring — it’s about feeling. And the moment you suppress too much, you stop living altogether.

A Philosophy of Passivity

Real talk: if Marcus Aurelius were alive today, he wouldn’t be writing a blog post about how to “crush your goals with Stoicism.” He’d be horrified at what his meditations have been turned into. A self-help crutch for people too scared to engage with the full spectrum of life.