Quote of the day

"When someone acts badly towards you, or speaks badly of you, remember that he is acting or speaking in that way because he regards that as being the proper thing for him to do. Now, it isn't possible for him to act in accordance with what seems right to you, but with only what seems right to him. So if he judges wrongly, he is the one who suffers the harm, since he is the one who has been deceived ... If you start out, then, from this way of thinking, you'll be gentle with someone who abuses you, for in each case you'll say, 'That is how it seemed to him.'" - Epictetus, Handbook

The Stoics believed that someone who perfectly put their beliefs into practice would be a Stoic Sage. For them, this wan't something that necessarily could be achieved, but could be strived towards. The Sage was a kind of hypothetical role model they would want to emulate. To me, anyone who can perfectly put into practice the sentiment Epictetus expresses above is not merely a Sage, but a saint.

It is such a beautiful, kind sentiment: to be able to forgive wrongdoing and not take offense. But it is something that I, at least, do not find always easy to implement. But wanting to feel that way, intending to feel that way - remembering that and reminding myself - is the first step. 

Another step, or, really, habit of thought to practice is not to convince yourself you've been harmed in the first place.