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Stoicism for Relationships
You cannot control other people, only your own responses, expectations, and honesty. Stoic relationships are built on accepting others as they are, speaking truthfully, and not making your peace depend on their behavior.
Stoic ideas for this
“Do not be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you need your comrades.”
Marcus Aurelius · Meditations
“Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.”
Seneca · Letters from a Stoic
“We are members of one great body, planted by nature.”
Seneca · On Anger
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
Zeno of Citium
Put it into practice
A Stoic tool is only useful if you actually use it. Try this small loop the next time relationships shows up:
- Name it plainly. Say what is happening without the story you are adding on top of it.
- Split what’s yours from what isn’t. Invest your energy only in the part you can actually choose.
- Do one small thing. A single deliberate action today beats a week of intending to.
Related ideas
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