The Supreme Court Of Your Mind

The Daily Stoic for August 15th, “The Supreme Court Of Your Mind”.

“This can be swiftly taught in very few words: virtue is the only good; there is no certain good without virtue; and virtue resides in our nobler part, which is the rational one. And what can this virtue be? True and steadfast judgment. For from this will arise every mental impulse, and by it every appearance that spurs our impulses will be rendered clear.”

—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 71.32

Today’s stoic is a reflection on how our behavior, our acts, all the small details, repeated day after day, make a difference in who we are.

I think it’s true. We define ourselves by means of habit and consistency. There’s nothing wrong with skipping the gym one day. But if it happens more and more frequently, you’ll end up quitting.

The Supreme Court Of Your Mind

As I described earlier, I don’t have “heroes” that serve as a model for me. Thus, that idea of observing people we revere does not really resonate with me.

I certainly admire some people out there, but I think each one of us has to find its own path. I focus on being a good person every day, not on imitating others.

But we don’t need to imitate some super famous figure such as John Lennon, Einstein or Gandhi. We all know what’s good and what’s not. It’s all on us. And I agree that our acts become impulses after repeating them over and over again.

So why not repeating the good ones until they become impulses, and try to get rid of the bad ones?

Conclusion

Today’s Daily Stoic, “The Supreme Court Of Your Mind”, discusses how we are the sum of our actions, and they define who we are, day after day.