Someone Disrespected You?

October 23, 2023

People can and will say whatever they want about you.

There’s nothing you can do about it; it’s outside your control..

Oh, wait…

There’s actually something you control: your response.

There is a Stoic strategy you can use to deal with disrespect once and for all.

Can you guess it?

It’s not crying, starting a fight, or being disrespectful in response.

It’s not even acting as if you don’t care, playing it cool.

Here’s Epictetus’ advice to his students, for when they encountered disrespect from their peers..

❝

“When you hear that someone speaks ill of you, do not try to defend yourself, but rather say: ‘Obviously he didn’t know my other faults, otherwise, he would have mentioned them as well.’”

– Epictetus

Cool, right?

You can even have a slight grin on your face while saying it—you will sound more badass this way!

Why care about the opinions of people you wouldn’t even ask for advice?

I know; easier said than done.

But you have to try.

Stoicism is not about taking revenge or, on the other hand, acting as if you don’t care—when you feel dead insulted inside…

But it’s about distinguishing between “what lies inside and what lies outside the sphere of our reasoned choice,” as Epictetus put it.

Do not let anyone ruin your day…

It could be your last.

Till next time,

Said The Stoic

PS. Respond “Stoic” to this email and I’ll send you a free pdf of Cicero’s exclusive book, “5 Stoic Paradoxes” (It’s only 16 pages long)