Snowflake or Stoic?

As kids, we were taught that snowflakes are utterly unique and beautiful creations. 

Today, being labeled a “snowflake” is not even slightly complimentary.

It speaks to a mindset of victimhood so fragile that it cannot encounter the slightest difference of belief without feeling an existential threat.

On the other end of the spectrum is the stoic, who is seemingly unaffected by anything others say.

Somewhere between being a snowflake or an iceman, is a golden mean where we don’t fall to either extreme upon encountering a differing viewpoint.

A willingness to stoically face the discomfort of disagreement helps to inoculate us against knee-jerk reactions or the temptation to simply avoid conversation.

What we need are opportunities to be able to encounter viewpoints or ideas that are unlike our own while resisting the need to force the other person to recant.

It could start out as simple as reading something with which we disagree and choosing to move along without comment. 

With practice, we soon get to the point where we can openly converse with others whose worldview differs from our own without getting offended or feeling the need to shout them down.

Eventually, this approach leads us to the point where others become more certain of what we’re trying to build and what we stand for than simply what is causing us resentment, disappointment or anger.

This can only happen when our primary goal is to become the ruler of ourselves rather than trying to rule others.

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