We All Fall Short
The Daily Stoic23 Huhti 2020

We All Fall Short

By now, you may have seen the video. A devout religious woman grabs the hand of Pope Francis as he greets the crowd of pilgrims and children. He tries to move on. She refuses to let go. In frustration, he slaps her hand and continues on.

It’s not a pretty sight for sure. Especially for a man who has spoken so beautifully about kindness and compassion and humility. To call it “violence” would be an overstatement, but it was rudely out of character—a contradiction of what the man teaches and is supposed to be an example of.

But here’s the thing: If you’re surprised and horrified, the problem is not the pope, it’s you. We all fall short. Seneca fell short. Marcus Aurelius fell short. Epictetus did too. Do you think they never lost their tempers? Never did the wrong thing? Ever failed to live up to their impossibly high standards?

They, like the pope, like you, are human. Which means flaws. Which means messing up. Which means doing the exact opposite of what you believe and how you want to be (because you’re tired, because you were tempted, because you weren’t thinking). “Is it possible to be free from error?” Epictetus said. “Not by any means, but it is possible to be a person stretching to avoid error.”

So don’t be too hard on other people, or even yourself. Accept apologies when given. Offer them readily when necessary. Learn from both other people’s mistakes and your own. And remember Pope Francis’ apology, because it was a wise one: "Love makes us patient. So many times we lose patience, even me, and I apologize for yesterday's bad example.”

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(2880)

BONUS | This Stoic Idea Will Reset Your Week

BONUS | This Stoic Idea Will Reset Your Week

The Stoics knew that wanting less increases gratitude, just as wanting more obliterates it. "Freedom isn't secured by filling up on your heart's desire but by removing your desire." - Epictetus 📓 Pic...

18 Helmi 4min

They’re Not Thinking About You At All | The Dangerous Comfort of Half Measures

They’re Not Thinking About You At All | The Dangerous Comfort of Half Measures

Day to day, it’s only our individual actions that are up to us: How we treat people, how we run our businesses, what we think about.📚 Grab the free PDF at tim.blog/seneca🎙️ Listen to the audiobook o...

18 Helmi 15min

Burn this Letter | The Enemy of Happiness

Burn this Letter | The Enemy of Happiness

It’s not that you should never speak up. It’s not that you should never speak truth to power. It’s just that you should never do it while you’re angry. Do it after you’ve calmed down. Do it after you’...

17 Helmi 7min

This Was Washington’s Philosophy | Power Fades. Character Leads.

This Was Washington’s Philosophy | Power Fades. Character Leads.

All that we see must be illuminated by the calm light of mild philosophy. So we can see what it really is. So we don’t do anything we regret. 📚 Pick up a copy of Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biograp...

16 Helmi 44min

 If You Only Read a Few Books This Year, Read These

If You Only Read a Few Books This Year, Read These

Most people don’t read that many books, maybe a few a year at most. So if you’re only going to read a couple books this year, the decision of which ones you choose becomes really important.In today’s ...

15 Helmi 13min

11 Stoic Rules For Love

11 Stoic Rules For Love

Love isn’t just an emotion. It’s not just a feeling that hits you out of nowhere. It’s an action, something you can practice and something you can get better at. And while philosophy might not seem li...

14 Helmi 24min

This Kindles the Soul | Why You Can't Ignore What's Happening

This Kindles the Soul | Why You Can't Ignore What's Happening

Marcus Aurelius said that if you ever found anything better in life than courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom—the four virtues—it must be an extraordinary thing indeed. Which raises the question: ...

13 Helmi 15min

Do Not Delay | Dan Harris & Ryan Holiday on The Pursuit of Wisdom

Do Not Delay | Dan Harris & Ryan Holiday on The Pursuit of Wisdom

Life has a way of stripping all our reasons bare, of humbling our plans and assumptions. We must live, as Marcus Aurelius said, as if death hangs over us. Because it does.👉 Listen to the full convers...

12 Helmi 13min

Suosittua kategoriassa Liike-elämä ja talous

sijotuskasti
mimmit-sijoittaa
psykopodiaa-podcast
rss-rahapodi
rss-rahamania
pomojen-suusta
ostan-asuntoja-podcast
juristipodi
rss-myyntikoulu
rss-draivi
herrasmieshakkerit
rahapuhetta
sijoitusovi-podcast
rss-lahtijat
rss-seuraava-potilas
bakkari-tarinoita-tapahtumien-takahuoneista
rss-h-asselmoilanen
rss-startup-ministerio
rss-bisnesta-bebeja
rss-turha-edes-yrittaa