The Rewards of Staying on the Straight and Narrow Path
This Seneca quote motivates us to stay the course when we seek positive change
“How much better to pursue a straight course and eventually reach that destination where the things that are pleasant and the things that are honourable finally become, for you, the same.” Seneca the Younger, in Letters from a Stoic
Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?
If you’re learning to play the piano, say, you need to practice scales and chords over and over again. It doesn’t sound like you’re making music and it’s not fun, really. If you stay the course, though, playing the piano will cease to be tedious a lot of the time and become pleasant, even joyous, most of the time.
Similarly, how much pain do you have to go through, how many repetitive drills do you need to do to get good at any sport? A lot! Eventually, though, you get the hang of it and the sport becomes thrilling. There might be pain, but the rewards more than make up for it.
Much the same happens with what Seneca calls “the things that are honourable.”
Think back to when you were a child and your parents tried to instill good habits in you. Adopting them was not pleasant. Delayed gratification comes to mind: no…
