No one likes to be degraded, or to have others talk poorly behind their back.

It hurts. And it leaves us wanting to strike back.

But Epictetus proposes a different, and I’d argue much more empowering, approach.

Instead of defending ourselves, he suggests that we should respond with:

“Yes and he doesn’t know the half of it, because he could have said more.”

Basically, not only do I not care about whatever someone else is saying. Not only do I not care to fight back. But the other person isn’t even saying the worst about me. If they knew me better they would say more.

What a powerful approach.

Who cares if someone is spreading rumors about us, or if they’re writing negatively about us online?

We decide how much we choose to let their words affect us, and there’s no higher road than hinting that the offender isn’t even fully doing their job.

-Brandon