In this episode I reflect on the idea of responsibility through the lens of Spider-Man’s famous question, “What if it is my job?” I talk about how we can discern whether something really falls to us or not, how our roles and duties guide those decisions, and why happiness isn’t the point of life for a Stoic — virtue is. Along the way, I share thoughts on gut reactions, role-based reasoning, and how we can both accept where we are and still strive for better.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
— Stoics should be cautious of following gut or heart impulses, since these are often driven by immediate emotions rather than reason.
— Our roles in life (parent, spouse, citizen, friend, etc.) help determine whether something “is our job” or not, and when no role obligates us, we can weigh whether new responsibilities can be taken on justly.
— Happiness is not about external circumstances but about who we are; contentment and striving can coexist when both are approached with justice and gratitude.
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