I'm going to keep today's post very simple (sometimes short and sweet is the best strategy). I have found a lot of comfort by reading and learning about Stoic philosophy during the last couple of years, so I hope that you will continue to indulge me when I post about a story or lesson that I've found particularly helpful to me. The ancient Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote, "Two words should be committed to memory and obeyed by alternatively exhorting and restraining ourselves, words that will ensure we lead a mainly blameless and untroubled life." Those two words were persist and resist.
Epictetus is telling us that we need to have the courage to continue to do what is right ("persist"), while at the same time restraining ourselves from doing what is wrong ("resist"). We live in a difficult world right now - perhaps that is true for every generation, but it certainly seems like our generation has had our fair share! Epictetus reminds us once again that we should persist in our efforts to do what is good, regardless of the obstacles that we face. He also tells us that we should resist the temptation to take the easy road or to cease in our efforts because of the naysayers that we encounter along our journey through this life. We should resist all the discouragement and distraction and keep moving forward. They are simple words, but the message is a powerful one. Persist and Resist.
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