The Buck Stops Here

The Buck Stops Here

The Daily Stoic for August 17th, “The Buck Stops Here”.

“For nothing outside my reasoned choice can hinder or harm it—my reasoned choice alone can do this to itself. If we would lean this way whenever we fail, and would blame only ourselves and remember that nothing but opinion is the cause of a troubled mind and uneasiness, then by God, I swear we would be making progress.”

—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.19.2–3

I think I can confidently say that it’s been a long time since I played the blaming game. Since I started reading and writing the daily stoic, I’ve really changed my mind about lots of things. Accepting what life brings you, taking responsibility for your actions…

Still, I can’t think of myself as an stoic person.

The Buck Stops Here

Today, I’m not feeling very stoic. It’s not that I am angry, or I am blaming someone for my problems, or anything like that.

Still, I haven’t mastered the art of stillness, of being completely devoid of emotions, with a strong will no external event can’t affect. I guess I’ll never be that super-stoic-man. If stoicism can turn you into such a creature, I think I’m doing something wrong.

It’s Friday evening, and I still have more than 3 hours to finish my day. It’s one of those long days. If you, like me, are a micropreneur, you know sometimes you have to cope with moments like these.

Luckily, sometimes your choices give you a freedom that more than makes up for days like today.

As I mentioned, I am not blaming anyone. It’s just how things turn to be. Sometimes you need to work harder, and sometimes it’s all up to you. Nobody to blame here except me. 

So related to today’s excerpt, what stoicism did teach me is that we have the ultimate responsibility for our lives. Your decisions and your actions shape who you are. There’s no one else to blame. Sometimes life’s going to be hard, no path is easy when it implies bold decisions.

But in the end, it’s worth it if it’s your path.

Conclusion

Today’s Daily Stoic, “The Buck Stops Here”, suggests that we drop the blaming game. I’ve been practicing that for quite a while, thanks to stoicism.