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The Stoic Way to Embody Courage
Defeat is the stepping stone to becoming unconquerable
Why do you feel defeated?
Did you lose your job in the pandemic?
Did you lose loved ones, your home and your personal possessions?
Or perhaps your business went under due to unforeseen circumstances.
In life, there will be a varying degree to which the feeling of defeat arises in each of us. The Stoics produced countless pieces of literature on how to utilise reason and logic to tackle this feeling and forge on.
All of which incorporate framing your mind to view defeat as an opportunity to rise, gain courage and become unconquerable.
Marcus Aurelius often emphasised that external things are not the problem. Rather our perceived judgment is, which we can change at any given moment.
The only way external things can influence us is when we accept the external influence. So if you feel defeated, note that you are complicit in your defeat.
The capacity to adjust and improve is arguably the signle most critical human ability.