THE IMPORTANCE OF STOICISM IN EMPOWERING PEOPLE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN SRI LANKA: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Sri Lanka is currently recovering from a severe economic crisis. This paper explores the role of Stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy, in assisting individuals and communities cope with adversity, facilitating recovery. The article examines how Stoic principles such as resilience, emotional regulation, and focusing on what is within one's control can potentially reduce mental health deterioration, improve stress management, and contribute to economic recovery through improved mental well-being. Additionally, it proposes interventions at the grassroots level, grounded in Stoic principles, to improve community-level productivity and overall economic resilience.