In the search for happiness, it is as important to do the right thing as it is to avoid dire mistakes. Seneca put together a list of mistakes to avoid, and warned us against our natural tendency to look for shortcuts.
When it comes to virtue, character and happiness, I am afraid that every inch of progress needs to be earned. Every millimetre of ground needs to be conquered. There is no way to magically jump forward and avoid the required effort.
Let us review the list of mistakes compiled by Seneca in his essays and in his Letters to Lucilius. I regard them as “myths about the good life” because people who make those mistakes actually believe that they are making great choices.
Seneca: the myth of the shortness of life
Many people subscribe to the myth that virtue and reason are not worth it, and that it is pointless to invest in the future, because life is too short. Seneca attacked this myth in his essay “On the Brevity of Life.”
Seneca condemns people who perform evil, reckless actions and then rationalize those by pointing at the brevity of life. In a life well lived, countered Seneca, there is enough time to do the right thing, provided that we avoid evil, foolish activities.
We should spend our time, says Seneca, as judiciously as we spend our money. To illustrate his recommendation, Seneca refers to Emperor Augustus (63 BC-14 AD).
Augustus’ achievements, affirmed Seneca, could have been greater if he had not wasted large amounts of time on trivial matters. Augustus could have delegated those to his assistants, but he insisted on handling them himself.
Overcommitment is incompatible with the good life, argued Seneca, because it will distract our attention and consume time that we should have devoted to pursuing crucial goals.
Unfortunately, overcommitment feels great at the beginning because it flatters our vanity. It makes us feel indispensable or superior. It creates the delusion that the world revolves around us and that we are capable of handling conflicting priorities.
Seneca warns us against all forms of overcommitment; they are likely to end disastrously, more often than not. Croesus of Lydia (595-546 BC) fell prey to overcommitment and paid the highest price.
Croesus was already wealthy and shouldn’t have engaged in a military campaign to enhance his reputation. His hands were already full with his business interests. His excessive ambition proved reckless and lethal. He became a victim of the myth of invulnerability.
Seneca: the myth of perfect goal setting
The belief that we should have perfect, exhaustive plans for our life, including goals and means, constitutes a widespread myth. I see this myth relayed by modern self-development gurus, who regard goal setting as an almost miraculous cure.
Seneca held more realistic views in this field. He endorsed having a sense of direction in life, for instance, for acquiring certain skills or practising certain professions, but keeping all options open, so that we can seize opportunities as they arise.
His 83rd Letter to Lucilius advises us to review our actions each evening to see how we can improve our strategy, realign our objectives, and identify fresh opportunities.
Seneca argued that a process of constant improvement is far more effective than the blind pursuit of elevated goals. There is no way to acquire perfect knowledge about the future. Thus, wise people prefer to keep learning day by day, step by step.
Pythagoras (570-495 BC) was the first thinker in history to have passed review to his actions each evening; his goal was to speed up the accumulation of knowledge, commit fewer errors, and increase his success and happiness.
Seneca is sceptical of detailed long-term goals because we have limited visibility of the future. In contrast, the practice of daily reflection will help us not only grow more effective, but also fine-tune or redefine our goals.
Seneca: the myth of easy friendships
Some of today’s self-development gurus advise us to befriend everyone we meet, irrespective of the circumstances. However, Seneca argues in his 7th Letter to Lucilius that not every friendship is beneficial to happiness. His statement contradicts the modern attempt to turn everybody into a friend.
In contrast, Seneca recommends us to befriend only persons of good character because only those can help us stay on the right track. The last thing we want, explains Seneca, is to hang around with people that undermine our virtues and goals.
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) was a life-long friend of Titus Pomponius Atticus (110-32 BC). Their friendship proved highly beneficial, notes Seneca, because both men possessed a good character and common interests.
In contrast, it can prove deadly to have friends like Lucius Aelius Sejanus (20 BC-31 AD). For a few years, Sejanus held a high position; as praetorian prefect under Emperor Tiberius, he enjoyed wealth and power, but was abysmally corrupt. When Sejanus fell from grace, he brought down his friends with him.
Seneca is correct to warn us against people of bad character. They will never make suitable friends because they are lying, scheming and manipulating all the time. It’s better to stay away from them altogether.
Seneca: the myth of continuity
The expectation of continuous, smooth happiness after having achieved a solid professional or social position constitutes a dangerous myth. Seneca addresses this myth in the 91st Letter to Lucilius. Seneca warns his readers against unrealistic expectations. It is normal in life to go through ups and downs, sometimes abruptly and painfully.
I agree with Seneca that continuity is a dangerous delusion, but its sweetness makes it almost irresistible. We should remain alert and keep a sound margin of safety, warns Seneca, so that we are able to cope with breakdowns in continuity.
Seneca’s words are ominous but true: We’ll suffer a deeper loss if we are not prepared for an abrupt change. We don’t want to emulate Gaius Marius (157-86 BC) in his merry-go-round of victories, defeat and humiliation.
Let us shape our life with reason and logic, and discard all myths that drive us in the wrong direction. Beware of illusions and delusions that lead to counterproductive action.
Seneca’s advice in his 18th Letter to Lucilius should be engraved in stone and committed to memory: When things are going well, it is the best moment to prepare against threats, risks and accidents that might endanger our life in the future.
If you are interested in putting rational ideas into practice in all kinds of situations, I recommend my book “The philosophy of builders.”
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