Their Opinions Don't Matter
Their Opinions Don't Matter
October 15th
“Or is it your reputation that's bothering you? But look at how soon we're all forgotten. The abyss of endless time that swallows it all. The emptiness of those applauding hands. The people who praise us, how fickle they are, how whimsical. And the tiny region it takes place. The whole earth a point in space—and most of it uninhabited.”
—Marcus Aurelius
Meditations
As you move through your day, are you choosing actions based on genuine integrity, or are you propelled by the desire for applause and approval?
As Marcus says, look at the brevity of our individual existence against the expanse of ceaseless time, and the fragility and fickleness of those who offer praise.
In the grand scheme of the cosmos, our actions and the praise they might elicit are inconsequential. The world about which we fuss is but a small dot in the universe, largely uninhabited. That isn't to diminish the value of our lives, but to place in perspective the applause we may chase.
So, next time the fear of losing reputation stifles your progress or the absence of applause leaves you unsatisfied, remember this.
Be sure the actions you take are authentically aligned with who you are and what you stand for, regardless of the fleeting and whimsical applause.
