Part 7/12:
As Epictetus emphasized, endure the fear of being thought foolish. The opinions of others are unstable—today they praise you, tomorrow they mock you. If your worth depends on their approval, you are forever a slave to their shifting judgments. Developing resilience means embracing rejection, misunderstanding, or silence as part of the path toward authentic self-expression. Psychological research supports this, showing that detachment from external validation reduces anxiety and fosters resilience.