Stoicism is ancient—born in the streets of Athens over 2,000 years ago, with philosophers like Zeno, Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius who shared a simple, timeless goal: help people live better lives by focusing on what they can control and accepting what they can’t. Although Stoicism has been around for millennia, its principles still resonate today, possibly more than ever. After all, life in the 21st century is full of distractions, pressures, and a tendency to overcomplicate things. Stoicism, with its age-old wisdom, has influenced society and shaped people’s lives by teaching calm resilience and guiding us to prioritize what truly matters.

So, how can we pursue what we really want without being sidetracked or overwhelmed? Here’s a look at prioritizing our desires with a dose of humor, Stoic wisdom, and some low-stress strategies.