Peace is in staying the course

“Tranquility can’t be grasped except by those who have reached an unwavering and firm power of judgement — the rest constantly fall and rise in their decisions, wavering in a state of alternatively rejecting and accepting things. What is the case of this back and forth? It’s because nothing is clear and they rely on those most uncertain guide — common opinion.”

— Seneca, Moral Letters, 95.57b-58a

Euthymia — “Believing in yourself and trusting that you are on the right path, and not being in doubt by following the myriad footpaths of those wandering in every direction”. [as defined by Seneca according to The Daily Stoic, pg. 23]

This is a nice follow up from the previous meditation on cutting the strings. Self doubt, also known as “the imposter syndrome”, is one of the most influential strings that pull on your mind. It impacts powerful people and regular people alike, holding us all back from our dreams.

It is hard to fight, as it strips us of the very confidence we need to move forward. Yet, all is not lost. Stop and look at all the angles, different perspectives. Find value in the “trying” and not just the completion. You may fail – but did you learn something. If you place value on the learning, then nothing is a setback and no time was lost.