How long has it been now, since you first heard of this philosophy?

A few months? A few years? A few decades?

Of course, it seemed hard to you when you first discovered it, because sadly, like the rest of us, you were not magically, instantly transformed. Indeed, however major the epiphanies you’ve had on your journey, like the rest of us, you still seem to have flaws, still lose your temper, still yearn for this or that, still complain about this boss and or that coworker. 

On some days it can feel like you’re failing. But is that really failure? No. Remember, Seneca said that Stoicism was about acquiring one thing a day, that’s it. Marcus Aurelius said it was building your character action by action. Zeno said that well-being was realized by small steps. It’s not glamorous, but with time and energy, we make progress. 

Longfellow, in his beautiful Psalm of Life, puts it perfectly:

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

   Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each to-morrow

   Find us farther than to-day.

One foot in front of the other. One page after another. One email after the next. We’re getting better as we go. We’re not perfect. We’re never going to be. 

But are we better than we were yesterday? Are we farther down the path of self-improvement? Of virtue? That’s what counts.