jonnyhodl on Nostr: I figure that since I’m finding more and more interesting accounts sharing ...
I figure that since I’m finding more and more interesting accounts sharing interesting and thoughtful posts on here, maybe I can add to that…
Here’s a stoic principle invites us to shift our focus from seeking fulfillment in external things—wealth, status, even the approval of others—and instead to turn inward, understanding that true goodness lies in how we shape our character and respond to the world.
The Stoics remind us that external things can be taken away, disrupted, or lost, but our ability to choose wisely and virtuously remains. When we understand that the only real good resides within us, in our thoughts, intentions, and actions, we free ourselves from the anxiety of trying to control what is beyond our power.
To apply this in our lives, we must cultivate an awareness of where we place our desires. Are we chasing after fleeting pleasures or external validations? Or are we investing in developing inner virtues—courage, integrity, wisdom—that no external force can take from us? In every situation, we should ask: What is within my control, and how can I act with goodness here?
In each moment of decision, we hold the key to our own well-being. Protecting our good means being mindful of our choices and their alignment with what truly matters. The law that Epictetus refers to—that we must get the good from ourselves—is both a challenge and a liberation. It asks us to stop looking outward for validation and start trusting the strength of our inner virtues. This is the path to a life of peace and resilience, where we become unshaken by the world because we carry the good within us, and do not seek it from external sources.
Here’s a stoic principle invites us to shift our focus from seeking fulfillment in external things—wealth, status, even the approval of others—and instead to turn inward, understanding that true goodness lies in how we shape our character and respond to the world.
The Stoics remind us that external things can be taken away, disrupted, or lost, but our ability to choose wisely and virtuously remains. When we understand that the only real good resides within us, in our thoughts, intentions, and actions, we free ourselves from the anxiety of trying to control what is beyond our power.
To apply this in our lives, we must cultivate an awareness of where we place our desires. Are we chasing after fleeting pleasures or external validations? Or are we investing in developing inner virtues—courage, integrity, wisdom—that no external force can take from us? In every situation, we should ask: What is within my control, and how can I act with goodness here?
In each moment of decision, we hold the key to our own well-being. Protecting our good means being mindful of our choices and their alignment with what truly matters. The law that Epictetus refers to—that we must get the good from ourselves—is both a challenge and a liberation. It asks us to stop looking outward for validation and start trusting the strength of our inner virtues. This is the path to a life of peace and resilience, where we become unshaken by the world because we carry the good within us, and do not seek it from external sources.