M

June    28th

NO  SELF-FLAGELLATION   NEEDED

“Philosophy calls   for simple  living, but not for penance—it’s    quite   possible    to  be  simple  without

being   crude.”

—SENECA,    MORAL   LETTERS,    5.5

arcus’s meditations are filled with self-criticism and so are the writings of other Stoics. It’s
important to remember, however, that that’s as far as it goes. There was no self-flagellation, no
paying penance, no self-esteem issues from guilt or self-loathing. You never hear them call themselves
worthless pieces of crap, nor do they ever starve or cut themselves as punishment. Their self-criticism is
constructive.
Laying into yourself, unduly depriving yourself, punishing yourself—that’s self-flagellation, not self-
improvement.
No need to be too hard on yourself. Hold yourself to a higher standard but not an impossible one. And
forgive yourself if and when you slip up.