Have you ever felt the sting when word gets back to you that someone has been speaking poorly of you? It's a familiar discomfort, the flare of indignation and the reflex to defend your name and character.

But Epictetus offers us a counter-intuitive and liberating approach: Instead of rushing to defend yourself, acknowledge your own imperfection. Imagine responding with, "Well, if they knew all my faults, they would have said even more." It's a humorous and humbling retort that diffuses your own irritation and any ensuing conflict.

This response doesn’t just disarm your critics—it also reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously, acknowledging that we all have a myriad of flaws, many of which go unnoticed.

In your daily life, when you feel the urge to defend yourself against criticism, take a moment to reflect. What if, instead of becoming defensive, you accepted that you are not without faults and that criticism, however unjust, could be an opportunity for growth? This perspective encourages self-awareness and emotional control. It allows you to sidestep the defensive traps of argumentation and to view others' negative comments as mere scratches on the surface of your broader personal development.

So, next time you hear a negative remark about yourself, pause and think: could this Stoic wisdom be the key to transforming criticism into a chance to cultivate humility and resilience?