How to Trust Again
Even after a poor crop, we should sow again.
A quick update before we begin- I’m in the final stages of editing The Stoic Manual: Meditations on the Art of Living, a collection of 150 Stoic meditations on living well. It’ll be released soon and included free for all Annual and Lifetime members. Meanwhile, access my other books here- if you qualify.
Welcome! Seneca wrote that even after a poor crop, we should sow again. Marcus Aurelius said the best revenge is not to become like the person who harmed us. Together, they knew that betrayal confuses our judgment. It tempts us to mistake one person’s failure for a law about all people, to confound intractable suspicion with wisdom, and to call emotional withdrawal strength. This piece is about learning to trust again after deception- how to remain open without becoming blind, and remain watchful without becoming impenetrable. Prior editions on this Relationship Series include- Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person, When Does an Affair Begin? & Three Questions to Ask Before You Leave or Stay in a Relationship. Let’s get into today’s lesson.
How to Trust Again
In the autumn of 333 BC, Alexander the Great fell badly ill in Tarsus after swimming in the cold Cydnus River. His doctor, Philip of Acarnania, prepared medicine for him. But while Philip was mixing it, Alexander received a letter from Parmenion, one of his generals, warning him that Philip had been bribed by Darius to poison him.
Alexander read the letter and said nothing. He slid it under his pillow. Then Philip came in with...