Before we dive into the newsletter, there’s two things I wanna tell you about…

3 Stoic Principles To Live By

“I don’t know how else to say it–Stress, anxiety and worry often times consume my mind and I wonder how I’m going to handle it all. And I feel like the more stressed I get, the more conscious I am about how others view me. What do you do to not let your emotions take over?”

I get it–Being a creative entrepreneur can be vulnerable and overbearing sometimes.

But there’s a better way to channel that energy, and it’s rooted in Stoicism.

Stoic philosophy, especially the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, gives us timeless wisdom on how to deal with the constant need for external validation.

Here are three key Stoic principles will help you shift your perspective and stop worrying about others’ opinions of you.

1. Everything is Temporary

Marcus Aurelius wrote: "You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think."

It’s a sobering reminder of how fleeting life—and everything in it—is.

All the things we stress about, all the worries about what other people think of us, are going to be gone.

So why waste time obsessing over something that doesn’t last?

Think about the last time you worried about what a client thought of your work.

Maybe their feedback kept you up at night.

But did that worry make you any better at what you do?

Did it change anything long-term?

Probably not.

That’s because other people’s opinions are temporary—just like everything else.

What will actually stick is the quality of the work you produce and the progress you make over time.

When you accept the idea that everything is temporary, it becomes easier to let go of unnecessary anxieties.

Instead, focus your time and energy on honing your craft.

The work will remain.

The worry will fade.

2. Focus on What You Can Control

One of the most powerful lessons from Stoicism is the idea of controlling what you can and letting go of the rest.

Marcus Aurelius constantly reminded himself of this.

He said, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

How does this apply to you as a creative entrepreneur?

Simple: you can’t control how others perceive your work, but you can control the effort, skill, and heart you put into it.

You can’t control whether your video goes viral or how many likes it gets, but you can control the quality of the story you’re telling through it.

When you stop wasting energy on things outside your control—like what people are saying or thinking—you free yourself to focus on the things that truly matter: the work itself, your process, and your growth.

By focusing on what’s in your hands, you’ll produce better work, and ironically, that often leads to the recognition you were chasing in the first place.

3. Other People’s Opinions Don’t Define You

Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”

It’s ironic, right?

We care so deeply about our own lives, yet we let others’ opinions weigh us down, even when they don’t really know our full story or the struggles we’re facing.

Here’s the truth: Other people’s opinions don’t define you.

The client who gave lukewarm feedback on your video?

Their opinion doesn’t define your ability as a videographer.

The social media trolls who have something negative to say about your work?

They don’t define your value as a creator.

When you let go of the need for external validation, you start to realize that your worth is not tied to anyone else’s opinion.

Your job is to get better at what you do, to make each project stronger than the last, and to focus on your own growth.

The people who truly matter will recognize the quality of your work over time.

Everyone else?

They’re just noise.

In the end, the Stoics teach us that the only thing we truly control is ourselves—our thoughts, our actions, and our ability to improve.

Everything else is just passing through.

When you stop worrying about what others think and focus on what’s within your control, you start to thrive as a creative entrepreneur.

Let this be a reminder:

- Everything you’re worried about is temporary.

- Focus on what you can control, not what you can’t.

- Other people’s opinions don’t define your value.

So with that being said, what are you going to do today?

Are you going to keep worrying about the noise, or are you going to use that energy to level up your work?

Focus on the work.

All that negative energy is just a distraction.

Keep creating and pushing forward.

You got this 👊🏼

-Landon