7 Things You Should Always Keep Private BECOME A TRUE STOIC

Hide these seven. Stay wise. Are you constantly feeling exposed in this oversharing world?

Do you sometimes wonder if you're revealing too much about yourself only to regret it later? That nagging feeling when you've said too much, shared too deeply, and now feel vulnerable and exposed. It's a universal struggle, isn't it?

In today's hyperconnected society where social media encourages us to broadcast every detail of our lives, maintaining healthy boundaries has become increasingly difficult. We're constantly pressured to share, share, share. But at what cost to our inner peace and personal growth?

If this resonates with you, if you're seeking practical wisdom on what to keep sacred and private in your life, then you've landed in the right place. Welcome to our channel where we explore the timeless wisdom of stoicism for modern living. Before we dive into these powerful insights, if you're new here, please consider subscribing and hitting that notification bell so you won't miss out on future explorations of Stoic wisdom and practical strategies for personal growth.

And if you find value in what we discussed today, please give this video a thumbs up and share it with someone who might also benefit from these perspectives. Your support helps us to keep creating content that can make a positive impact. Also, right from the start, I'm really curious to know what's one thing you've shared in the past that you later wished you had kept private.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Let's start a conversation and learn from each other's journeys. Now, let's explore the seven things that true Stoics always keep private and why this ancient wisdom remains so relevant in our modern world.

One, your personal struggles and weaknesses. The modern world encourages us to broadcast our struggles, doesn't it? Social media has created a culture where vulnerability is often commodified, where sharing our deepest struggles can become a form of attention seeking rather than genuine healing.

A true stoic takes a different approach. They acknowledge their imperfections and areas for improvement internally, but they don't broadcast these struggles to the world. Why?

Because stoicism is fundamentally about inner work and self-improvement. It's about quietly addressing your weaknesses through reason and self-discipline. Think about it.

When you publicly air your vulnerabilities, what often happens? You invite a flood of opinions, judgments, and solutions from others. Some may be well-intentioned, but many can be misguided or even harmful.

This external noise can actually distract you from the real work of self-improvement. Marcus Aurelius never intended his meditations to be published. These were private reflections on his own weaknesses and struggles written for himself alone.

He understood that true growth happens in private through honest self-examination and disciplined action. Instead of broadcasting your struggles, consider keeping a private journal like Marcus did. Reflect honestly on your weaknesses.

Seek guidance from trusted mentors or philosophical principles and work diligently to improve yourself without the distraction of public opinion. Have you ever noticed how keeping certain struggles private actually helped you address them more effectively? Or conversely, has sharing something personal ever backfired?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Two, your good deeds and virtuous actions. In our social media age, the temptation to share our good deeds is stronger than ever.

Post a photo of your volunteer work, share that charitable donation, broadcast your acts of kindness. But what does this do to the purity of the action itself? Stoicism teaches us a profound truth.

Virtue is its own reward. When you perform good deeds for external praise or recognition, you diminish their value. The moment you seek validation for your virtuous actions, you've shifted your motivation from virtue itself to the approval of others.

Senica wrote, "The reward for a good deed is having done it. " This simple statement captures the stoic approach perfectly. A true stoic acts virtuously because it is the right thing to do, not for applause or recognition.

Consider this. When you help someone in need without telling anyone, when you make a donation anonymously, when you perform an act of kindness that no one will ever know about, there's a special kind of satisfaction in that, isn't there? That's because the action remains pure, untainted by ego or the desire for recognition.

Publicizing acts of kindness can easily become a form of ego-driven display. It shifts the focus from the good deed itself to how others perceive you. A stoic finds satisfaction in the act itself and understands that true virtue often goes unseen and unacnowledged by the world.

What's one anonymous good deed you've done that brought you genuine satisfaction? Or if you're comfortable sharing, has there been a time when you shared a good deed and later felt it somehow diminished the act? Share your reflections in the comments.

Three, your material possessions and wealth. We live in a culture that constantly encourages us to display our material success. Luxury brands, expensive cars, lavish homes.

These have become status symbols that many feel compelled to showcase, especially on social media. But stoicism advises against attachment to externals, including material wealth. Epictitus, who was born a slave and lived simply even after gaining his freedom, taught that true wealth lies in wanting what you already have, not in having what you want.

Flaunting possessions can breed envy in others and inflate one's own ego. Both of which are counter to stoic principles. More practically, it can also attract unnecessary attention, potential dangers, and the wrong kind of people into your life.

A stoic understands that true happiness is not found in material things, but in inner contentment and virtue. They might enjoy nice things, but they don't define themselves by their possessions or feel the need to display them to gain approval from others. Consider adopting this stoic approach.

Enjoy what you have, but keep it private. Use your resources wisely and for good purposes, but without drawing attention to them. Remember that in Stoic philosophy, wealth is merely a preferred indifference, something that might be nice to have, but is ultimately irrelevant to your virtue and happiness.

How has your relationship with material possessions affected your peace of mind? Have you ever felt the burden of maintaining an image based on what you own? Share your experiences in the comment section below.

Four, your future plans and goals, especially in detail. In today's achievementoriented culture, there's often pressure to announce our goals and plans to the world. Some modern advice even suggests that publicly declaring your intentions increases accountability and likelihood of success.

However, stoicism offers a more nuanced perspective. While stoics are certainly proactive and goal oriented, they understand the fundamental uncertainty of the future. Senica reminds us, "We suffer more in imagination than in reality, pointing to our tendency to become attached to specific outcomes that may never materialize.

Sharing detailed plans prematurely can lead to several problems. First, it can create disappointment if things don't unfold as expected. Second, it can invite unwanted interference or negativity from others.

Third, it can create unnecessary pressure to follow through on a plan that may need to be adjusted as circumstances change. A stoic focuses on the present moment and on controlling what they can, their actions and intentions. They work diligently towards their goals but maintain a degree of detachment from specific outcomes, understanding that external events are often beyond their control.

The ancient Stoics would advise us to plan carefully, but hold those plans lightly. Work quietly and consistently toward your goals, adjusting as needed based on changing circumstances. Share your plans only with those whose input and support you genuinely need.

and even then focus on the principles and values guiding your decisions rather than rigid outcomes. Have you ever shared a goal or plan prematurely and regretted it? Or have you found that keeping certain ambitions private actually helped you progress more effectively?

I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments below. Five, your philosophical and spiritual practices in depth. Stoicism is a deeply personal philosophy.

While discussing Stoic principles generally can be beneficial and educational, the intimate details of one's philosophical journey and spiritual practices are best kept private. In our era of spiritual materialism and performative wisdom, there's a temptation to showcase our philosophical practices as badges of identity or achievement. We see this in social media posts about meditation sessions, philosophical reading lists, or spiritual retreats, often shared more for validation than genuine exchange.

The Stoics would advise a more private approach to philosophical practice. Marcus Aurelius wrote his meditations as a personal journal, never intending it for publication. Epictitus warned against talking too much about philosophical principles without embodying them in action.

He said, "Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it. " True philosophical growth is a solitary and introspective process.

It involves deep personal reflection, honest self-examination, and the quiet application of principles to daily life. Sharing these intimate processes in detail can invite misinterpretations, superficial judgments, or even mockery from those who don't understand or appreciate the path. Instead of broadcasting your philosophical practices, let them be evident in your character and actions.

People will notice the changes in how you handle challenges, treat others, and navigate life's complexities. This living demonstration of philosophy in action is far more powerful than any detailed account of your practices. How has keeping certain aspects of your philosophical or spiritual journey private enhanced your growth?

Or have you experienced situations where sharing too much about your practices led to misunderstanding? Share your thoughts in the comment section. Six.

Your family matters and personal relationships, private conflicts. In the age of reality TV and social media oversharing, family matters and relationship conflicts have increasingly become public foder. We've normalized airing private disagreements, family tensions, and relationship struggles for public consumption.

Stoicism emphasizes justice and wisdom in all interactions, including family and personal relationships. However, airing private conflicts or family matters publicly is rarely productive and often harmful. It can damage relationships, invite gossip, and distract from finding constructive solutions.

The stoic approach to relationship conflicts is characterized by discretion, reason, and a focus on resolution rather than validation. When conflicts arise, a stoic handles them privately with respect for all parties involved. They focus on understanding different perspectives, finding common ground, and maintaining virtuous relationships based on mutual respect.

Cicero influenced by stoic philosophy wrote the foundation of justice is good faith highlighting the importance of trustworthiness in relationships. Publicly discussing private conflicts betrays this trust and can permanently damage the relationship even after the conflict itself is resolved. Instead of seeking external validation during relationship challenges, seek wisdom.

Consult trusted advisers if needed, but keep the details private. Focus on addressing the issue constructively with an emphasis on understanding rather than blame and on resolution rather than being right. Have you ever regretted sharing private relationship matters with others?

Or have you found that keeping relationship challenges private actually helped in their resolution? Share your experiences in the comments below. Seven, your inner thoughts and judgments about others, negative ones.

We all have negative thoughts and judgments about others from time to time. It's a natural part of human cognition to form opinions and assessments. However, stoicism encourages us to be very careful with these judgments both internally and especially externally.

Epictitus advised, "When someone does something you think is wrong, don't focus on their mistake, but on what they thought was right about it. " This perspective encourages empathy and understanding rather than harsh judgment. Sharing negative judgments about others publicly serves little constructive purpose.

It can damage reputations, both theirs and yours, create unnecessary conflict and foster a negative, judgmental mindset. Moreover, it distracts from the stoic principle of focusing on your own character and actions rather than criticizing others. A stoic strives to understand and empathize with others.

Recognizing that everyone is on their own path and faces their own challenges, they practice what Marcus Aurelius called charitable interpretation, assuming the best rather than the worst about others motives and actions. Keeping negative thoughts private helps to cultivate inner peace and avoid unnecessary conflict. It also gives you space to examine these judgments critically, asking whether they're truly justified or perhaps based on incomplete information or personal bias.

Instead of criticizing others, focus that energy on improving yourself. As Marcus Aurelius wrote, "The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury. " By focusing on your own virtue rather than others vices, you contribute positively to the world rather than adding to its negativity.

Have you ever shared a negative judgment about someone and later regretted it? Or have you found that keeping certain opinions private actually helped you develop more understanding and empathy? Share your reflections in the comments.

In our hyperconnected oversharing world, the ancient stoic practice of privacy offers a path to greater inner strength, authenticity, and peace of mind. By keeping these seven aspects of your life private, you create space for genuine self-improvement, untainted virtue, and meaningful relationship. Remember that stoicism isn't about secrecy for its own sake, but about intentionality in what you share and why.

It's about focusing on inner development rather than external validation and about living according to your values rather than others expectations. As you move forward, I encourage you to reflect on what you share and why. Ask yourself, am I sharing this for external validation or does it serve a genuine purpose?

Will sharing this help or hinder my growth and relationships? Is this something that would be better kept private? Thank you for joining me on this exploration of Stoic wisdom and privacy.

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Until next time, keep practicing stoicism, keep cultivating your inner garden, and remember that some of the most valuable aspects of life.