#stoicism

#stoicism

The wisdom here isn't about self-deprecation, but rather embracing what Davis et al. (2011) refer to as the "just right view of the self." When we clearly understand both our strengths and weaknesses, we gain a better understanding of the value we bring to our environment as well as where we need additional support. In theory, when we recognize this, neither flattery nor insult should have the power to distort our self-worth.

What might this be? Well, I don't have a complete answer. But I am convinced that the foundation is developing the ability to live with intention. Intention is nothing other than the ability to make free and conscious choices, and when we are able to do this consistently, we become the authors of our own stories, protagonists who co-create the world rather than being determined by it.

The Stoic Seneca (d. 65 CE) is the master of the "consolation," a letter written for the express purpose of comforting someone who has been bereaved. Seneca wrote at least three consolations, to Marcis, to Polybius, and to Helvia. In the Consolation to Helvia, he comforts his own mother Helvia on "losing" him to exile-an unusual case, and literary innovation, of the lamented consoling the lamenter.

Anger is a bad habit that people tend to pick up from their parents. When a child who was raised at Plato's house was returned to his parents and witnessed his father shouting, he said, 'I never saw this at Plato's house.'

We must learn to distinguish between things that are within our control and those that are not. The only thing entirely within our own control is our mind.

Emotion is one big thing out of our control, which many people don't seem to understand. Feelings are inevitable and unavoidable. However, excessively focusing on them can hinder performance.