Today’s Stoic
Practise then from the start to say to every harsh appearance: You are but an appearance, and not the thing you appear to be.
What it means today
The first impression is not the truth; it is only an appearance. Naming it as such — "you are but an appearance" — is the first act of freedom, the pause that lets reason in.
Try this todayWhen a harsh impression hits today, say to it, "You are but an appearance."
Today’s questionWhat appearance am I treating as the thing itself?