Cherish what you have and continue learning
While a close relationship with a friend has many benefits, Seneca warns you to avoid crowds — large societal groups promoting conformity. The more people, the greater your chances of meeting someone with cruel intentions. And once you do, you either accept their influence or become resentful; neither option brings peace.
Avoiding crowds ties into limiting your desires to necessities. Indulging in excessive social gatherings, food, or clothes doesn’t improve your life, while consuming only what you need allows you to deal with essential matters instead of appearing active. Limiting your social connections will enable you to devote yourself to your closest friend.
Such restraint is possible with self-sufficiency — a core concept in Stoicism that means a person is content with what they have. However, if you’re happy without a friend, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want one. A Stoic wise person won’t suffer because they lost something, but they would prefer to keep it.
⚡️You can have inner peace while enjoying the company of others.
Instead of chasing crowds, spend time with yourself and those who can teach or learn from you. The learning process benefits both parties, so as you gain knowledge, share it with someone. Do not let your experience go to waste because wisdom builds your personality and brings clarity and order to your life. In this journey, turning to philosophy can be transformative — it helps you choose your life’s course to find happiness and peace.
A healthy mind keeps you active; the body and spirit are closely connected. Therefore, exercising your mind is as vital as jogging or lifting weights. Apart from studying, practice gratitude and always treat yourself and others with kindness.
Comparing your progress to your past self is much healthier than looking at others. Instead, after every couple of milestones, pause to reflect on whether you’ve truly evolved.
Pursuing wisdom improves every aspect of your life. Thousands of decisions must be made throughout your life, and you’ll need to apply your knowledge to choose the most suitable answer. Philosophy can grant you the freedom to consider alternative options for any issue and plan.
Most importantly, practice consistently to maintain steady enthusiasm for spiritual growth. Regular mind exercises will give you a clear, meaningful course to follow — one toward peace.