Stoic Coffee Break

"I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others."- Marcus Aurelius"How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy."- Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius warned us worrying about the opinion of others is a waste of time. But, if we live with other people and are social animals, shouldn’t we worry about what others think?No, because what others think doesn’t change the intrinsic value of who or what is being judged. It’s just a thought in their mind. That is all.While this is an easy concept to grasp, it is a hard thing to implement. From the day we’re born we seek the approval of other. Our parents and family at home. Our teachers at school. Our friends and co-workers. We all want to be liked.But does someone’s opinion of us change our intrinsic value? Does someone else’s thoughts make us