Seneca reminds us here of an all-too-common human trick: the belief that if we could just be somewhere else, with different people, and different circumstances, our problems would vanish.

Like restless shadows, we attempt to flee from our own realities, convinced that the grass is indeed greener anywhere but beneath our feet.

But have you ever noticed that no matter where you go, your worries seem to pack themselves in your suitcase too? That's because the root of discontentment often lies within, not without. It's not the change of scenery that's needed—it's a change in perspective.

The Stoics would urge us to pause and reflect: What are we truly trying to escape? Is it our job, our city, our companions—or is it our attitudes toward them? If we find ourselves weighed down by frustration or dissatisfaction, we must confront the possibility that it's our own expectations and reactions that need addressing, not our ZIP code.

This doesn't mean we should never change our surroundings, but rather, that we should first work on ourselves.

How might your day-to-day life improve if you stopped trying to outrun your shadow and instead, turned to face it, understand it, and finally step into the light of self-awareness and self-improvement?