s01.15 Why Be Concerned About Others?

Today's quote comes from Seneca’s Letters From A Stoic

Why be concerned about others, come to that, when you've outdone your own self? Set yourself a limit which you couldn't even exceed if you wanted to, and say good-bye at last to those deceptive prizes more precious to those who hope for them than to those who have won them. If there were anything substantial in them they would sooner or later bring a sense of fullness; as it is they simply aggravate the thirst of those who swallow them.

How many of us are searching for the viral post?

That perfect misery shot?

An ever increasing number of followers on social media?

An ever increasing number of supporters on Patreon, etc?

These are the deceptive “prizes” that we shouldn’t be aiming for.

Once you have them, you won’t be satisfied with what you have, and will always want more.

Instead we should be aiming to become better people.

The more we become better ourselves, the more that we are better able to present a good example for others to follow.