Stoicism for a Better Life – Weekly exercise (May 8, 2019)

Hello there,

This week for our guidance, let us keep with a similar theme guide to last week and look at the same letter from Seneca (just further down) LXIII 10:

“If we have other friends, we surely deserve ill at their hands and think ill of them, if they are of so little account that they fail to console us for the loss of one. If, on the other hand, we have no other friends, we have injured ourselves more than Fortune has injured us; since Fortune has robbed us of one friend, but we have robbed ourselves of every friend whom we have failed to make.”

Last week we reflected on how fortune takes away our loved ones, and therefore that we should enjoy them as much as possible right now before they are gone. Here, Seneca is also reminding us that if we are left without any friends (when nature takes them away), we are partly to blame for it. It would mean that we missed opportunities for making new friendships along the way, due to our inaction, or lack of apathy or effort etc.

Friends come and go. True friends we love are hard to come by. Therefore we should actively keep looking for new friends along the way of our journey. So this week make an effort to cultivate a new relationship. Whether you make a new connection (speak to someone who you would not have otherwise, and strike a conversation), or try and elevate a bond you already have (turn that small talk into a chat over tea and genuinely strive to learn about someone), make a conscious effort to add to your (quality) circle of friends. You never know what new connection (on or offline) could lead to a life long friendship.

Good luck to you all this week, and as usual, share your stories if you feel like it (many get inspiration from just reading about others’ journeys).

Much love

Anderson Silver

(Author of “Your User’s Manual” and “Vol 2: Your Duality Within”)