For nonconformity, the world whips you with its displeasure. And therefore

a man must know how to estimate a sour face. Ralph Waldo Emerson

The path to greatness must be walked alone. You have to smile as well, because life is not something to be mourned, but celebrated. But you have to walk your own path if you want to enjoy life as best as it can be enjoyed, not depending on opinion but on will.

Yesterday I read a post on Reddit about someone asking how to deal stoically with your non-stoic friends, that, basically, just want to drink and smoke weed. I answered that you simply don’t deal with them, you simply have to become good at estimating the sour faces (this what not giving a fuck looks like), because you are going to get a lot if you are going to truly walk your own path.

I’m sure we’ve all been in that situation at the party when we know we must get going to get some sleep for work tomorrow or anything and when you announce that you are leaving, suddenly nobody wants you to leave, and fearing the sour faces, you decide to stay and face regret the next day, pity.

Rejection is always better than regret.

Regret

Regret is always a good moral compass, you are not going to remember rejection, later on, you are going to forget the sour faces very, very quickly, but regret, regret stays forever my friend.

This is true in many situations in life. Just met the love of your life walking by? Didn’t asked name or number? Rejection is better than regret.

Need to talk to someone to fix things off? At least before he or she dies? Rejection is better than regret.

Afraid to start the new business or the trip to Korea? Rejection is better than regret.

People are afraid of greatness. It’s always better to make decisions by yourself and for yourself and get good at appreciating the sour faces.

Remeber

“You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire”

― Seneca, On the Shortness of Life

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