Note: This post is part of a weekly series called ‘Seneca Sundays’. Each week, I reflect on one of Seneca’s ‘Moral Letters to Lucilius’, and summarise the most practical and useful principles to share with you.
In this letter, Seneca encourages us to change the way we look at situations when things go wrong, and to understand that every good thing in life comes with a commensurate, unavoidable tax.
1. Inevitably, bad things will happen
When things go wrong, it’s easy to ask, “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”
We will fall ill. We will toil. We will lose. We will fear. We will hurt. These things are inescapable.
Seneca challenges us to think about these as inevitable experiences, rather than accidents.
When we live with the assumption that Fortune will let us live in comfort and luxury indefinitely, we’re bound to get upset when bad things happen.
2. Anticipate life’s taxes
Seneca comments on how odd it is that people ask for a long life, but then get upset when their body starts to ache or they develop an illness—these people aren’t willing to pay the tax of life.
“A long life has troubles, just like a long journey includes dust, mud, and rain.”
This idea extends well to other areas. There’s a tax to taking that tough job, living far from family, and achieving our healthy and fitness goals.
Many want the outcome. Few are willing to pay the tax.