Enchiridion 6 discusses the concept of externals and that ahich should be none of our concern. Sometimes we get excited about the wrong things. People have money, cars and nice clothes. Many try to model themselves based on this.

Your neighbor has a better house or better car. Why don’t you? Stoicism teaches this mindset and externals do not improve us. It brings up comparisons and expectations we may not achieve.

We get too caught up in materialism and things that are not our own. People let this represent themselves. Things have a use.

It can hurt our relationships with jealousy and resentment building up. We look at our lives and see what is lacking based on others. This is a false way to live. Things have a use but do not deine us. It takes self-actualization to realize this.

Some people spend a lifetime trying to figure out who they are and where they are going in life while others achieve self-actualization early on, gaining insight into who they are and where it is they want to be. Very few people take the time focus on their self and finding their real purpose in life. It’s no wonder so many of us question what it is we were put on this earth to do.

Self-actualization challenges us to achieve our highestpotential in life and find ways to sustain it.