"What is the first business of philosophy? To part with self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn what he thinks that he already knows." - Epictetus
In case it's only dawning on you, as it did upon me, 25 of my 27 entries thus far have been titled "Sunday Stocism." Now, this is as much my dyslexia as complacency at work, but Epictetus reminds that even the most knowledgeable can still find something to learn and even the most skilled may find ways to improve.
Even if it's by simply running a spell-check before posting online.
The very point that he is delivering is simple: when you assume that you have no room to grow and change, you stop doing so, and you become complacent to your own self-image, allowing your mind to distort reality to bolster your own ego.
If you feel you have mastered chess or that twitchy online game with two dozen players that requires focus and reflexes, when you have read every book in a series and refuse to read the other that takes place in the same world, when you presume that you have the tools and knowledge to fix your own plumbing or electrical systems in your house, you are at risk of stagnation.
Never stop learning. Never stop seeking information. Never stop pushing to improve. Never think that you are "good enough" or "the best." Instead, always thinks "I'm the best I can be *IN THIS MOMENT* as I pursue improvement." Always leave yourself room to grow and thrive, even if you have to sit through a tutorial or discuss a topic with someone who is only just picking up your favorite hobby. Always be humble, lest you be humbled by your own failings and lack of self-improvement.
The greatest masters of any study or pursuit know that they are always learning, and even the most accomplished doctors and lawyers call their work "practice."
Be well. Be mindful. Be sure to proof-read and use spell-check - auto-correct won't fix everything. ;)
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3 days, 23 hrs ago
17 Aug 2025 19:22 CEST
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