EACH THE MASTER OF THEIR OWN DOMAIN

“My reasoned choice is as indifferent to the reasoned choice of my neighbor, as to his breath and body. However, much we’ve been made for cooperation, the ruling reason in each of us is master of its own affairs. If this weren’t the case, the evil in someone else could become my harm, and God didn’t mean for someone else to control my life.”

- Marcus Aurelius, MEDITATIONS, 8.56.

“The foundation of a free country is that your freedom to swing your fist ends where someone else’s nose begins.” It is pretty self explaining, but definitely worth discussing.

One of the fundamentals of stoicism is to mind your own business, without even thinking about others thoughts or actions, living your life the way you want deep inside. But what if you really disagree with someone’s decision ? And that, even if it is someone you really care about ?

There is a big difference between giving advices, and imposing your “style” to the people you are interacting with. In fact, an advice is simply something you give for free in a simple conversation to someone you care about, without necessarily putting energy into, whereas imposing what you want to someone can be really harmful. In both ways.

Here I’m not talking about a coach who imposes what he wants to his players, because a coach knows what is good and efficient for a player to become better, and what’s not.

My point is that if you strongly disagree with someone’s decision, be open minded enough to - at least - sincerely understand their point so that it eliminates negativity from the equation, and it immediately becomes an adult discussion instead of a meaningless conversation.

It is your duty to understand others, and to mind your own business whatever the outcome is. As in football we have that “next play” mentality, where we always have to think about the next thing we’ll have to do whatever the outcome of the previous play was, good, bad, even great, or terrible.

Not being open-minded enough to react nicely to someone’s decision you disagree with, only leads to chaos, and to the destruction of that relationship. It can be harmful for the person who is taking the decision because it may the the biggest decision of his/her life, and can be doubting about it seeing your reaction, since sometimes you are way more influential in someone’s life that you’d expect.

It can be harmful for you too, since you’re only generating bad energy, stress and other unpleasant emotions which ultimately leads to bad hormones, and a bad feeling about everything. Action-reaction: bad energy always equals bad outcome.

On the other hand, being open-minded enough to sincerely understand someone’s decision, or point of view even if you strongly disagree with it can be life changing, in both ways. It mentally helps and supports the person who is taking the decision, and it can inspire you, not directly, but maybe when that idea has grow enough in your head.

Thanks for reading the post until the end, I really appreciate it.

It’s been a while since I’ve written something, but I’m back on track, and hope you’re too for what’s coming.

Thanks again for reading the post, as usual if you want to discuss it don’t hesitate to slide into my DMs to tell me what you think about it. I now have an Instagram account which will make things way simpler.

Instagram account : @jbdx__

Link : https://www.instagram.com/jbdx__/?hl=fr-ca

Tomorrow’s article will be called “Forgive them because they don’t know”. So for all of that, and more. see you tomorrow :)