🌳 The 3-Step Stoic Combo That Silences Difficult People

👋 Welcome to Simply Stoicism, where ancient wisdom gets simplified for modern life (and show you how to actually use it)

This week, I’m sharing a 3-step method for dealing with difficult people.

💭 Quote of the Week

This wasn't Marcus being pessimistic. He was giving himself a daily reminder: Difficult people are inevitable. Your peace of mind isn't.

💡 Stoic Lesson of The Week

You know the moment. You're in a meeting with that client who lives to point out everything you've done wrong. Your pulse quickens. You're biting your tongue. And suddenly, your inner Marcus Aurelius has left the building.

Here's what the Stoics figured out about difficult people that changes everything: They're not the problem. Your reaction is.

That passive-aggressive email only ruins your morning because you let it. That toxic colleague only "makes" you angry because you're giving them that power.

Other people's behavior belongs to them. Your response belongs to you. That's where your power lives.

🎯 Your Action Plan

The last 3 newsletters have all been leading up to this moment… After weeks of training, you're ready to combine your Stoic powers into the ultimate finishing move against difficult people. Initiating KO in 3… 2… 1…

Your Combo:

1. The Stoic Pause (Your Emergency Brake)

   Notice your triggers:

   • Racing heart

   • Clenched jaw

   • Hot face

2. The Powerful Question (Your Pattern Interrupt)

   Pick ONE:

   • "What would this look like if I were at my best?"

   • "What's the most effective response here?"

   • "Will this matter in a year?"

3. The Stoic Reframe (Your Power Move)

   Choose your outcome:

   • Instead of winning, aim for peace of mind

   • Instead of changing them, upgrade your response

   • Instead of reacting, decide who you want to be

Try This Now:

Create your signature combo:

• Your Trigger: (First sign of reactivity?)

• Your Question: (Which one feels right?)

• Your Outcome: (What matters more than being right?)

Pro tip: The real victory isn't in destroying your opponent - it's in mastering yourself.

📖 Story Time

Picture this: A Roman senator stands up in the middle of the Senate and starts hurling insults at Cato the Younger, trying to provoke him into losing his cool. What this senator didn’t know was that Cato had a brilliant move for handling insults. When someone attacked him publicly, he'd simply ask: "Did I say something incorrect? If so, please correct me. If not, why are you bothered?"

This drove his opponents crazy - not because he won the argument, but because he refused to play their game, showing that maintaining your standards matters more than winning.

🤔 Takeaway

You can't control whether difficult people cross your path. But you can control whether they cross your mind.

Question to ponder: What if the difficult people in your life aren't obstacles, but opportunities to practice who you want to become?

✍️ Journal Prompt

Think of your a difficult person in your life:

• What triggers do they activate?

• How would your wisest self respond?

• What might they be here to teach you?

🔗 Worth Your Time

• "The Four Agreements" - Ancient wisdom about not taking things personally (Don Miguel Ruiz)

• A refreshing take on how to resolve relationship conflict (Mark Manson)