how could we recognize stupidity in others and ourselves the ancient stoics held that knowledge starts with realizing our own ignorance as well as that of people close by six main indicators of ignorance will be shown in this video via the prism of stoic philosophy and human conduct these are teachings on how to flourish learn and grow not only observations stay around and don't forget to subscribe for further ideas on wisdom and personal development number one the closed mind the first indication that we are ignorant is when we have a closed mind if someone can prove
me wrong and show me my mistake I will gladly change Marcus Aurelius said in his meditations I wish to change this assertion is not merely a manifestation of intellectual modesty rather it is a rallying cry for anyone who hopes to acquire wisdom the capacity to acknowledge one's own shortcomings and to be open to new points of view is the foundation of personal development a person with a closed mind on the other hand is obstinate in their adherence to their views and is unwilling to acknowledge any facts or argument that contradicts them the question is however
what causes a closed mentality to form in the first place in its most fundamental form it is founded on fear you are afraid of being incorrect you are afraid of being silly and you are afraid of change our ideas are surrounded by a fortress that is constructed by our anxieties which prevents anything that appears to be dangerous from entering it is important to note that this Fortress is not a symbol of strength rather it is a prison if we keep our minds closed we will be cut off from the truth and will be forced to
think in a limited and unchanging manner we suffer more frequently in our imaginations than we do in the real world as the stoic philosopher senica famously stated this holds true in this particular instance the anxiety that we experience when we are afraid of admitting that we are in correct or changing our ideas is frequently much more intense in our minds than it is in reality we are not merely defending our egos when we reject fresh ideas rather we are not only denying ourselves opportunities to develop learn and improve ourselves consider the following how frequently do
we observe individuals reaffirm their beliefs despite the fact that the fact unequivocally rebut them each and every time it takes place maybe it's a coworker who insists on using Antiquated practices despite the fact that there are more effective options it could be someone who is unwilling to revise their opinions on a particular matter because they believe doing so would give the impression that they are lacking in strength on the other hand here is the reality resisting change does does not make you a strong person it turns you into a frail person it is impossible for
a man to learn what he thinks he already knows epicus reminds us it is so impossible individuals who have a closed mentality are not only resistive to new information but they are also blind to it when we believe that we already possess all of the answers we stop challenging ourselves with new question questions additionally when we stop asking questions we stop evolving as individuals let's bring this much closer to our own lives inquire of yourself is there a belief or opinion that you have maintained for an excessively lengthy period of time it's possible that it's
a perspective that you've never really questioned before or a concept that you inherited from your childhood how recently did you allow someone someone to challenge your thoughts without becoming defensive when was the last time you did this the answer to this issue is not easy to come up with but it is absolutely necessary understanding our own limitations is the first step toward gaining wisdom so here's an illustration imagine that you are having a discussion with a friend and that they decide to give evidence that is in opposition to the viewpoint that you hold what is
the first thing that comes to mind do you intend to listen to them and take into consideration their point of view or do you intend to instantly defend your position on the other hand if it is the latter you might be allowing your ego to come in the way of your development keep in mind that error is not a sign of failure rather it is an opportunity to gain knowledge we learn from Marcus AEL that you have power over your mind not over events that occur outside of yourself when you come to terms with this
you will discover your strength you are able to control how you react to someone challenging your beliefs but you are unable to control whether or not they challenge your beliefs a smart person approaches difficulties as chances to learn and grow they are perceived as dangers by someone who is dumb in light of this what steps can we take to free our minds make a modest beginning try to find people who have viewpoints that are different from your own it is recommended that you read books listen to podcasts or view videos that question your preconceived notions
it is important to develop the skill of hearing without passing judgment on new information that is presented to you by another person what are some things that I can take away from this experience also the most essential component is that you should not be afraid of things changing our growth is dependent on change according to another quote attributed to Marcus Aurelius what stands in the way becomes the way the same thing that you try to avoid the agony of recognizing that you are doing something wrong could very well be the key to accessing the next
level of insight that you possess I will conclude by saying that having a closed mind is not a state that is permanent it is a habit and habits are something that can be altered as you make the conscious decision to be interested rather than protective as you let go of fear and welcome learning you go one step closer to achieving Freedom have a conversation with yourself today and ask yourself what belief am I holding on to to that might no longer serve me when it comes to opening my mind what is the smallest step that
I can take mainly due to the fact that the search of wisdom begins with a straightforward decision which is to let go of certainty and start embracing the uncertainty number two blaming others the incapacity to accept responsibility is the second in a series of signs letters written by senica include the following a gem cannot be polished without friction nor a man can be perfected without trials but the ignorant person does not recognize difficulties as chances for personal development to avoid taking responsibility for their acts they instead point the finger at others think about it if
every failure is other people's fault how can you ever grow as a person the beginning of wisdom is when we confront our shortcomings head on and announce this is on me and I will learn from it do you remember a time when you blamed other people for something that you could have owned take a moment to reflect about this if this is the case allow that moment to serve as a lesson one of the most obvious indications of folly is the practice of blaming others the this is because it gives the impression of Innocence while
simultaneously impeding one's own expansion a person deprives oneself of the opportunity to grow as a result of their own past errors when they persistently place blame on other people take a more in-depth look at this shall we adversity is not something to be avoided rather it is something that should be welcomed with open arms as senica Dem demonstrates through his metaphor regarding friction and Perfection whether it be a failure a dispute or a setback every challenge that we encounter is an opportunity for us to improve ourselves the dumb person on the other hand views these
times not as mirrors for the sake of self-reflection but rather as platforms for denial their surroundings their co-workers their upbringing or even luck are the things that they blame epicus stated that we are not disturbed by what happens to us but by our thoughts about what happens epicus was another person who cautioned against this approach to thinking to put it another way it is not the external incident that defines us rather it is the way in which we choose to think about and react to it a method of evading this duty is to place blame
on other people it is not simple for me to confess that I am at fault confronting challenging realities about ourselves is a necessary part of accepting responsibility I made a mistake or I could have handled that better is what it means to admit mistakes however here is the reality progress cannot occur in the absence of this genuiness think about the people who motivate you to do better they are the ones that try to blame others and play the role of the victim instead are they the ones that take responsibility for their choices grow from their
mistakes and view obstacles as opportunities for growth and development additionally this is not only about major setbacks we tend to divert rather than reflect on the simple ordinary experiences that we experience if you missed a deadline at work you might have blamed your supervisor for not providing you with the time to complete the task it's also possible that you believe that the other person is solely to blame for the failure of a relationship that you had you could find that these narratives provide you with a sense of solace in the short term but in the
long term they will keep you stuck Marcus Aurelius offered the following quote you have power over your mind you do not have control over external events make this a reality and you will discover your strength owning up to your errors does not make you a weak person when you're in charge of your own development it is a sign that you are powerful the question now is how can we break the practice of blaming other people first anytime something goes wrong take a moment to pause and reflect saying what what could I have done differently is
a better question to ask than who is to blame for this all of this is changed by a straightforward shift in mentality I want to challenge you to go back in time and think about a time when you blamed someone else for something that happened to you which aspect of that circumstance am I able to accept responsibility for I promise that it will be empowering even even though it may first be uncomfortable every time you make the decision to accept responsibility you are reclaiming your power according to senica adversity is what molds us if you
find yourself in a situation like this again fight the impulse to point fingers ask yourself what is this teaching me instead of looking outside you can quit being a Fool by following this path which is the way to knowledge now number three overconfidence without Merit the next topic is inflated self assurance that lacks Merit the teachings of epicus include the following it is not what happens to you that matters what matters is how you react to it people who are considered to be foolish frequently respond to the world with unwarranted Assurance mistaking their loud opinions
for profound knowledge here is where the Dunning Krueger effect comes into play people who have a limited amount of information frequently have the attitude that they know everything it exemplifies complete and utter Folly on the other hand wisdom is accompanied by humility which is the realization that the more we learn the more we become aware of how much we do not know continue to dissect this in Greater detail and over idence that is not supported by evidence is not merely a small flaw rather it is an obstacle to both progress and comprehension a person who
is certain that they know everything stops asking questions stops listening and stops learning when they reach that point to add insult to injury they are completely unaware of the situation one of the most famous quotes attributed to Socrates the father of of Western philosophy is that the only true wisdom is in knowing that you know nothing this is not about being self-deprecating or being more modest than you actually are rather it is about acknowledging the magnitude of what is still unknown those who are foolish completely overlook this in their limited knowledge they mistake it for
Mastery and in their opinions they mistake facts for opinions consider the Dunning Krueger effect a psychological phenomenon that exemplifies this point in a way that is absolutely perfect individuals who have a poor level of aptitude or expertise in a certain field tend to exaggerate their level of competence which is a cognitive bias to put it another way they do not have sufficient knowledge to comprehend the extent of their ignorance in the meantime those who are truly in formed are frequently the most humble since they have experienced the expanse of the unknown during their lives are
you familiar with the experience of having a conversation with someone who confidently spreads false information they are not going to take into account different points of view they are not going to listen to reason and they are not going to admit the idea that they could be wrong don't you find it frustrating now that we have that out of the way let's look inward are there aspects of your life in which you have been overconfident without any basis in reality if anybody informs you that a certain individual speaks ill of you do not make excuses
about what is said about you rather answer he was uninformed of my other shortcomings else he would not have mentioned only these epicus reminds us of this advice this is not me nearly a witty remark rather it serves as a constant reminder to approach life with humility and self-awareness it is not necessary for the smart person to appear faultless since they are too concentrated on bettering themselves the danger of having an excessive amount of confidence is that it can cause us to become blind when we are overconfident in our own expertise we prevent ourselves from
being exposed to new and improved ideas deepening our understanding and experiencing genuine progress you could feel like you standing on a wobbly pedestal for a brief period of time but all it takes is one push of reality to bring you crashing down if you are in that position in that case what is the answer the first thing to do is to be humble make the presumption that there is always more to learn and move forward from there for example rather than stating I know you could try saying I'm learning questioning oneself is the second phase
in the process you should take a moment to pause and question yourself could I be wrong when you are totally confident about something which pieces of evidence am I lacking that is what would someone who holds a different Viewpoint say in conclusion you should surround yourself with people that push you to your limits those who are wise do not dislike being chastised rather they look forward to it Marcus aelius once offered the following advice you must not only correct yourself but you must also allow yourself to be corrected by others as you go through life
make this a guiding concept for you you are going to be asked to consider a subject or field in which you have a great deal of self assurance at this point you should question yourself is that self assurance supported by profound knowledge and comprehension or are there potential gaps that you haven't taken into consideration rather than tearing oneself down the objective is to construct a more solid foundation by locating and filling in the holes that have been identified keep in mind that wisdom stems from the absence of certainty in the short term having an excessive
amount of self assurance may make you feel safe but in the long run having humility will serve you better if you find yourself speaking with complete and utter certainty in the future take a moment to pause think about it be sure to question yourself am I being intelligent or am I just being loud this is the way to liberate yourself from the pedestal of folly and begin the process of constructing genuine knowledge number four ignoring consequences the fourth point is to live without any consideration for the repercussions what we do now echoes in eternity Marcus
Aurelius remarked somewhere in his writings the individual who is foolish on the other hand does not consider beyond the present instant they behave in a rash manner oblivious to the potential consequences that their choice ches may have in the future take some time to reflect on the decisions you've made this week have you not taken into account the long-term effects would you say that you acted solely on impulse a person who is smart is aware that every action has consequences and they act in accordance with this understanding shall we delve even farther into this Marcus
Aurelius wasn't merely a poet when he remarked what we do now echoes in eternity he was referring to something significant it was a Timeless reality that he was pointing out the future is shaped not just by our acts no matter how huge or how tiny they may be but also by the actions of people around us someone who is dumb conducts their life as if this is not the case they make judgments based on the need for short-term enjoyment or convenience and they do not take into account the potential consequences that may follow overspending neglecting
relationships or making decisions out of anger are all examples of behaviors that frequently result in regret when the consequences of those behaviors are brought to light according to a quote attributed to senica a stoic philosopher it is not that we have a short time to live rather it is that we waste a great deal of it foolishness is the pursuit of transient Pleasures or the path of least resistance both of which are ways in which time and potential were wasted on the other side wisdom is about developing a perspective that is long-term the question that
needs to be asked is what kind of person will I become as a result of this decision and how will this decision impact the rest of my life please please pause for a moment to think are you someone who has ever taken a choice without taking into account the long-term effects of that choice only to come to regret it later it could have been a decision regarding your finances a change in your work or even something as simple as a heated dispute in which you said things that you did not intend to say this is
not a punishment but rather a learning experience the significance of foresight is brought to mind by these reminders one of the most common causes of foolishness is living on autopilot instead than pausing to consider the consequences of our actions we choose to act on impulse propelled by our feelings or our immediate desires however attentiveness is necessary for wisdom it requires us to pause before we take action and question ourselves what will happen next what is the likelihood that this activity will get me closer to the person I want to become or will it draw me
further away from that person first say to yourself what you would be and then do what you have to do epic tetus advised do what you have to do people who are wise have a blueprint for their lives and they make sure that their behaviors are in line with that blueprint they are conscious of the fact that every choice regardless of how insignificant it may seem either strengthens or weakens their character take for instance the scenario in which you are tempted to skip a workout overspend on something that you do not require or lash out
and express your dissatisfaction it is possible that these decisions appear to be inconsequential at the moment yet they have a cumulative impact putting off your workout for the day is the beginning of a pattern of disregarding your health costs that are not necessary build up to a stressful financial situation trust in your relationships might be damaged when you have an angry Outburst having said that this does not imply that you should overthink each and every choice you make or that you should always be afraid of making errors to be wise is not to achieve Perfection
rather it is to have aim in other words it is about acknowledging that your actions are significant and accepting responsibility for them a workout that you could do is as follows take a moment to pause for a few seconds and ask yourself two questions before making any decision no matter how big or how small what are the potential repercussions of this action is the first question to ask am I okay with those consequences is the second question changing this one basic habit can completely alter the way you make decisions when you find yourself on the
verge of acting rashly it is important to keep in mind the words of Marcus Aurelius you have power over your mind not over events that occur outside of you recognize this and you will discover the strength you need it is within your your ability to make Intelligent Decisions to plan ahead and to live your life with a purpose here is a question for you what decisions are you making right now that will have an impact on your future is the life you wish to create compatible with the choices you make don't wait for regret to
teach you the lesson if you haven't already done so now is the time to begin acting with intention and allow knowledge to direct your actions moving ahead number five spreading negativity Distributing negativity is the fifth item on the list associate with people who are likely to enhance you senica told his followers on the other hand stupid people act in the opposite way they constantly whine gossip and criticize others which wears down their energy levels not only does negativity cause cause harm to those around you but it also erodes your own values and principles through the
cultivation of inner tranquility and the dissemination of that peace to the world the stoics believed whenever you find yourself in the midst of negativity you should ask yourself how can I bring positivity instead what are some ways that you can alter your thinking if you are the one who is causing it a sickness is similar to negativ ity it begins with a simple thing such as a critical comment here or a complaint there but it quickly spreads infecting not just those of your immediate environment but also yourself the piece of advice that senica gives which
is to associate with people who are likely to improve you is not limited to selecting companions who are positive additionally it serves as a reminder to be someone who other people would like to associate with when someone is dumb they frequently thrive on negativity using it as a means to form relationships with other people or to conceal their own inadequacies complaints gossip and criticism May provide a sense of temporary satisfaction but they rarely result in the resolution of issues instead they Foster an environment that is riddled with mistrust and [Music] dissatisfaction negativity on the other
hand is a habit and just like any other habit it is one that can be broken when it comes to our reactions and attitudes the stoics thought that we have influence over them the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts Marcus aelius a Roman philosopher wrote it is inevitable that your life will mirror the gloomy and critical ideas that you have you will be able to create a more tranquil and fulfilling living for yourself and people around you if you think in a constructive and positive manner toward your thoughts in the first place
let's investigate the reasons why people disseminate negativity most of the time it is the result of internal conflicts that have not been resolved it is possible that a person who chronically criticizes other people is projecting their own fears onto others it's possible that someone who engages in gossiping is looking for validation or a distraction from their own experiences having this awareness does not mean pointing fingers rather it means having the awareness that negativity is frequently a symptom of a more profound level of misery if you feel that you are stuck in a cycle of negativity
what exactly can you do to break out of it practice awareness as your first step keep your words and thoughts in mind at all times to what extent do they contribute to the process it is important to question yourself is this complaint helping me find a solution or is it just fueling the problem whenever you find yourself whining the phrase it is not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters is a poignant lesson that epic Teeters provides our attitude is the determining factor in whether or not the obstacles we face
in life make us more bitter or more better focus on what you can do to put things right rather than concentrating on what is wrong with the situation you should also avoid allowing the negativity that you are surrounded by from other people to consume you withdraw into yourself as far as you can senica tells his followers protecting your inner peace is what this means not isolating oneself from the world even if other people are engaging in Gossip or criticism you do not have to do the same thing it is possible for you to establish boundaries
redirect conversations in a positive direction or just remove yourself from surroundings that are toxic the next time you feel the temptation to criticize or complain take a moment to pause and think about what you will do instead instead of concentrating on the issue at hand take a few deep breaths and try to think of something constructive to say or do the act of expressing thanks suggesting a solution or Shifting the conversation to something that is uplifting could be considered quite straightforward practicing mindfulness even for a short period of time can completely transform your view Point
keep in mind that the effects of the energy you send into the world are like ripples when you distribute negativity it will sometimes return back to you in a magnified form if on the other hand you promote positivity you will establish an environment of kindness and support that will be to everyone's benefit including your own benefits we are reminded by Marcus aelius that the happiness of your life is dependent upon the quality of your thoughts question yourself what kinds of thoughts are you cultivating in your mind what kind of energy are you disseminating to the
general public please use this as a guide instead of being the storm that makes the sky darker you should be the storm that makes the air clean number six lack of empathy lastly a lack of empathy for the sit situation epicus tells us that we have two ears and one mouth which allows us to listen twice as often as we speak so that we can maximize our listening abilities people that are irresponsible lack this equilibrium due to the fact that they have difficulty seeing beyond their own requirements they are unable to comprehend the experiences and
emotions of other people it is not just a moral virtue but also a proof of intelligence to have empathy for other people in a world that is full of chaos it enables us to navigate relationships find solutions to problems and find peace due to the absence of it we find ourselves alone within our own ignorance it is the foundation of both wisdom and connection that empathy is built upon the absence of it leads to the disintegration of relationships the weakening of communities and the narrowing of individuals viewpoints it is a fantastic illustration of the significance
of tuning into other people that epic titus's advice which states that we have two ears and one mouth to listen more than we speak is still relevant today on the other hand ignorant people invert this ratio giving consideration to their own voice while disregarding the viewpoints of those around them what is the significance of a lack of empathy in terms of foolishness mostly due to the fact that it demonstrates a lack of comprehension of one of the most fundamental realities of life which is that we are all interconnected what injures The Hive injures the bee
Marcus aurelus stated in his book meditations when we disrespect the emotions or requirements of other people we are eventually causing injury to ourselves consider the the situation have there ever been a disagreement between you and another individual in which the other person refused to take into consideration your point of view that was how it felt right there is a good chance that it left you feeling dissatisfied unheard and alienated let's now consider the frequency with which you can unwittingly cause the same harm to other people being compassionate is only one aspect of empathy it also
involves one's ability to reason the ability to put ourselves in the position of another person and view the world through their eyes is made possible by this in light of this it is not necessary for you to compromise your own boundaries or agree with everyone it involves having an understanding of where they are coming from even if you do not personally agree with their viewpoints wherever there is a human being there is an opportunity for kindness senica reminds us throughout his writings the capacity for empathy presents an opportunity not only to connect with other people
but also to develop as individuals not only does it teach us patience and humility but it also teaches us to look beyond our immediate requirements however dumb people are resistant to empathy since it demands work on their part ignoring the suffering of another person is far simpler than confronting it headon in order to have a better understanding it is more convenient to think that someone has malicious motives on the other hand wisdom necessitates the bravy to care whereas foolishness flourishes in this kind of self-centered Simplicity in a world that frequently appears to be divided what
are some ways that we might Foster empathy begin beginning with active listening is a good place to start if someone is speaking to you you should not simply wait for your turn to react instead you should listen to what they have to say it is important to pay attention to their tone the words they use and the feelings that they may be experiencing beneath the surface try to put yourself in the shoes of someone else and try to imagine the challenges they face when you wake up in the morning tell yourself the the people I
deal with today will be meddling ungrateful arrogant dishonest jealous and Surly this is the advice that Marcus Aurelius Advocates because they are unable to differentiate between good and evil they behave in this manner a reminder to engage other people with compassion acknowledging that their behaviors are frequently the result of ignorance or pain rather than malicious intent even though this may sound harsh at last take some time to think about your personal experiences what are some instances in which you have been misunderstood or ignored that was how it felt right utilize your Recollections as a guide
to ensure that you treat other people with the same level of understanding that you wish you had received empathy has the power to influence not only our interpersonal connections but also our internal life life becomes more fulfilling and significant when we shift our perspective from viewing people as challenges or opponents to viewing them as fellow Travelers on this journey epic tetus encourages us to put this into practice on a daily basis for the following reason don't just say you have read books show that through them you have learned to think differently to become a better
person person Embrace empathy as the evidence of your personal development ask yourself do I focus more on listening than I do on speaking am I quick to pass judgment on others or do I make an effort to understand them in addition to revealing your conduct the responses to these questions also indicate who you are as a person it is not a sign of weakness but rather of strength to have empathy it is the capacity to connect with others to heal and to construct bridges in a world that is in dire need of these in the
present moment the beginning of wisdom is when we realize that the hardships of others are not distinct from our own allow this to serve as a reminder to you the six signs of stupidity as seen through the lens of stoic philosophy are all presented here for your per rusal remember that this is not about categorizing other people rather it is about being conscious of yourself a quote attributed to Marcus aelius states do not waste any more time arguing about what a good man ought to be act as one the purpose of these indications should be
to serve as a mirror for introspection rather than a weapon for judgment you should also consider sharing this video with someone who could benefit from a little bit of wisdom in their life if you found it to be useful to begin our journey toward growth and comprehension click the Subscribe button because this is just the beginning of our adventure I will see you in the following video
