Taxation
When you run up against someone else’s shamelessness, ask yourself this: Is a world without shamelessness possible?
No. Then don’t ask the impossible — Marcus Aurelius
We experience shameless behaviour everyday. Someone might have even come to mind as you read this. They lie, steal, cheat, cut in line, push in front, take the credit, can be obnoxious, and rude, and selfish. However, If we accept that it is impossible for a world without them, then we know that they are out there. Why then are you surprised? Why are you so jaded and unsettled about life when the alternative is impossible?
These are the taxes of life:
Difficult people
Stolen goods
Broken things
These are impossible to mitigate. It is a toll which must be paid. It is therefore not the responsibility of other people to change, but yours. No amount of anger and resentment you produce as a result of shameless people reduces the shameless behaviour in the world. It only reduces your own stability and effectiveness.
You can hold your breath until you’re blue in the face, and they’re going to keep on doing it — Marcus Aurelius
High Standards, Low Expectations
The best revenge is to not be like that — Marcus Aurelius
Expectations guide how we want something to go, and when our expectations aren’t met, it affects us, not them. If our expectations for others are high, even though reasonable and hard-working people may cross the threshold, shameless people will never. The trick is to simply not be like that. Allow them to continue their improper and wasteful behaviour, and start focusing on what you can control. Your own behaviour, your own decisions, and your own standards.
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens — Epictetus
Expectations outside of your reasoned choice is dangerous. It considers variables that you cannot control, and people who — which we often forget — will not make decisions in line with our best interests. By exposing our well-being to the taxes of life we sacrifice energy we could have spent on our own volition. The only expectation worth holding is that of yourself. Just that you do the right thing.
What expectations are you holding onto?
Just Something To Consider.
🔗 Sources
Aurelius, M. Meditations. Random House.
Holiday, R. Stoic Response to Mean or Selfish People. Daily Stoic. https://dailystoic.com/stoic-response-mean-selfish-people/
Holiday, R. Taxes of Life. Daily Stoic. https://dailystoic.com/the-taxes-of-life/
Velvet, K. You need to keep your standard high and your expectations low. Medium. https://medium.com/narrative/maybe-you-need-to-keep-your-standards-high-and-expectations-low-11dfbf485235