Have you ever caught yourself boasting about the achievements of your favorite sports team, your kids, or perhaps your company's success?

It's natural to feel connected to the victories of the groups we belong to, but Epictetus wants us to check ourselves: take pride only in your own accomplishments. When we ride the coattails of others' excellence, we're not only inflating our egos with borrowed air, we're also ignoring our personal responsibility to pursue our form of excellence.

Acknowledge the achievements of others, sure, but don't let that be a substitute for your own hard work and virtues.

What can you do today to polish your skills or improve your character? By focusing on what you can control—your actions, choices, and efforts—you build true confidence and self-respect.

Next time you're tempted to bask in reflected glory, ask yourself if you're letting someone else's light overshadow your own potential. Applaud others, but remember the satisfaction that comes from achieving through your own merit is what lasting pride is made of.

Keep this in mind as you navigate through your daily challenges, and strive to create accomplishments that are genuinely yours to claim.