I don't post a lot of comments here, but I want you to know that Stoic Wisdoms is a wonderful newsletter and it's given me a lot to think about. I have fallen for the comparison trap so many times and have set standards for myself that have been either too rigid or too lofty, not caring that my own story differs vastly from everyone I've ever compared myself to. This article gave me a reminder that it's time for me to examine my standards and see if I can be less rigid with it. Thank you.
I read your text outloud while sitting alone at home. I live alone. I cried from the first line to the end, and went back to the day I decided to walk the road alone. My quest for my "sovereignty" since early age have cost me a great deal, and despite my actual maturity, it's a never-ending road. It is solitaire, because our education is constructed to depend on society's opinion. A society that recognizes those who have found what you so rightfully called sovereignty, and is unforgiven for your audacity to chalenge their rules and for that you are beaten everyday. You are judged, misunderstood . You are not a good example. When you write your own rules considered non acceptable by the invisible police, you are bound to be destroyed because people always want what you have that's not for sale. Sovereignty is fragile in a world where freedom lost its meaning. Thank you.
What a wonderful reflection you share here. Deep and yet actionable. Rich and yet easy to understand.
Understanding what our own moral scale is looking like. Refining how our own moral scale should look like. Breaking free from the judge that was installed within us long before we were able to choose.
I respect your efforts to encourage personal responsibility. I'm 77. Looking over my life, I find the Stoic principle of "accurately discerning and accepting things that cannot change" to have been VERY helpful, including my years of humanitarian work.
Now, I am sobered by HOW LITTLE I've actually had control over.
Being born into abject poverty, a religiously strict family has determined my life and still does.
Despite all my efforts from childhood, achieving academic success, at age 28. Religious and physical PTSD nightmares began occurring.
I'm a general internist with special interests and training in psychiatry, to my patients' great benefit largely invisible to them. My "very interest in others' life course" has been hell on earth at times with involuntary respites from work. I have partially redeemed my set of circumstances. How many millions of other Americans must be walking around with scores of other invisible diseases? Years ago, a wise psychiatrist observed:
The word 'sovereignty' is an interesting choice. We can either learn to govern ourselves or be governed by outside forces. To govern ourselves is to exercise individual sovereignty-"free will" if I may use that term. Every person is ruler of his or her own life. That is, being willing to bear the true consequences of our choices and behaviors. If we relinquish our sovereignty to an external government or king, or in other words a "sovereign", then we may be insulated from some of the consequences of our actions, but then we are subject to the consequences of the decisions made by the governing body. When I make a poor decision I must suffer the consequences, along with any others that I may have effected, family, investors, etc. When government makes decisions, such as war and taxes, actions with which I may strongly disagree, the suffering is generalized and the decisionmakers are insulated from the consequences. The risks associated with liberty are infinitesimal when compared to the risks associated with government action. I do want to keep what I lawfully acquire, and cannot compare checkbooks with Elon Musk, nor do I wish to switch places with him, but it gives me hope that the scale of wealth that he has earned is still possible. The free market and individual sovereignty is the key to the future of the human race. No other system has been found which allocates scarce resources as efficiently as the free market which presumes individual sovereignty.
Having grown up in two very different cultures over the span of childhood and young adulthood, this post got me thinking... which standards have I adopted from either culture that are not my own? The ways of the world have us shooting for the world systems. How many of them are the moral, good, or personal standards? Do I need to live up to them? I think the answer is "no" more often than we realize.
The Stioc Game Plan reflection Qs are right on, as usual.
I don't post a lot of comments here, but I want you to know that Stoic Wisdoms is a wonderful newsletter and it's given me a lot to think about. I have fallen for the comparison trap so many times and have set standards for myself that have been either too rigid or too lofty, not caring that my own story differs vastly from everyone I've ever compared myself to. This article gave me a reminder that it's time for me to examine my standards and see if I can be less rigid with it. Thank you.
I read your text outloud while sitting alone at home. I live alone. I cried from the first line to the end, and went back to the day I decided to walk the road alone. My quest for my "sovereignty" since early age have cost me a great deal, and despite my actual maturity, it's a never-ending road. It is solitaire, because our education is constructed to depend on society's opinion. A society that recognizes those who have found what you so rightfully called sovereignty, and is unforgiven for your audacity to chalenge their rules and for that you are beaten everyday. You are judged, misunderstood . You are not a good example. When you write your own rules considered non acceptable by the invisible police, you are bound to be destroyed because people always want what you have that's not for sale. Sovereignty is fragile in a world where freedom lost its meaning. Thank you.
What a wonderful reflection you share here. Deep and yet actionable. Rich and yet easy to understand.
Understanding what our own moral scale is looking like. Refining how our own moral scale should look like. Breaking free from the judge that was installed within us long before we were able to choose.
What a great essay.
Yep.
I started reading this yesterday! It didn’t resonate with me as much as your other articles/pieces.
I realized, I might have been distracted and said to myself, I’ll read it later.
I did read it today and wish I had read this 5 years ago.
I truly believe what you wrote here & I have found the answer for me!
I believe it will come to you when you are able to accept the changes in your life - either good or bad! There is a lesson in all of it!
This article goes to show you - you can be a victim or rise above.
Thank you for such an amazing newsletter! It really boosts me mentally in many ways.
I respect your efforts to encourage personal responsibility. I'm 77. Looking over my life, I find the Stoic principle of "accurately discerning and accepting things that cannot change" to have been VERY helpful, including my years of humanitarian work.
Now, I am sobered by HOW LITTLE I've actually had control over.
Being born into abject poverty, a religiously strict family has determined my life and still does.
Despite all my efforts from childhood, achieving academic success, at age 28. Religious and physical PTSD nightmares began occurring.
I'm a general internist with special interests and training in psychiatry, to my patients' great benefit largely invisible to them. My "very interest in others' life course" has been hell on earth at times with involuntary respites from work. I have partially redeemed my set of circumstances. How many millions of other Americans must be walking around with scores of other invisible diseases? Years ago, a wise psychiatrist observed:
There ARE people who COULD if they would.
The vast majority WOULD if they could
Please regard this positively without ill intent.
The word 'sovereignty' is an interesting choice. We can either learn to govern ourselves or be governed by outside forces. To govern ourselves is to exercise individual sovereignty-"free will" if I may use that term. Every person is ruler of his or her own life. That is, being willing to bear the true consequences of our choices and behaviors. If we relinquish our sovereignty to an external government or king, or in other words a "sovereign", then we may be insulated from some of the consequences of our actions, but then we are subject to the consequences of the decisions made by the governing body. When I make a poor decision I must suffer the consequences, along with any others that I may have effected, family, investors, etc. When government makes decisions, such as war and taxes, actions with which I may strongly disagree, the suffering is generalized and the decisionmakers are insulated from the consequences. The risks associated with liberty are infinitesimal when compared to the risks associated with government action. I do want to keep what I lawfully acquire, and cannot compare checkbooks with Elon Musk, nor do I wish to switch places with him, but it gives me hope that the scale of wealth that he has earned is still possible. The free market and individual sovereignty is the key to the future of the human race. No other system has been found which allocates scarce resources as efficiently as the free market which presumes individual sovereignty.
My first thought. I truly love who I am, even when I don't. I've never been to a place where I would want to exchange who I am with anyone.
Having grown up in two very different cultures over the span of childhood and young adulthood, this post got me thinking... which standards have I adopted from either culture that are not my own? The ways of the world have us shooting for the world systems. How many of them are the moral, good, or personal standards? Do I need to live up to them? I think the answer is "no" more often than we realize.
The Stioc Game Plan reflection Qs are right on, as usual.
“What the world puts in front of you.” This is a mouthful in regard to free will.
No thing new!