Epictetus taught that it isn't events that disturb us, but our judgments about them, and a great deal of our hurt comes from how we read another person's words or look. A criticism only wounds when you agree to pick it up. You can hear it, weigh whether it's true, learn what's useful, and let the rest fall. Someone's poor opinion of you is their opinion, living in their mind, not a fact about your worth. This isn't pretending you don't care at all. It's remembering that the final say about who you are stays with you, and you don't have to hand it over.

Inspired by the old idea of character over reputation. Written by Ugo Charles.