What determines the actions of every Stoic {{username}} is virtue.
Nothing is above virtue.
If you aspire to live like a Stoic, virtue should be your compass, your pole star, your very own bible contained in a single state of mind: to be virtuous in your every action.
You are the embodiment of virtue, it is within you,
and you yourself are part of a unifying Whole: the Divine and its Will, this Universal Reason which I’ve been exposing, which is outside of you.
For you, these external things are :
1/ Preferred indifferents
2/ Unpreferred indifferents
These indifferents are neither good nor bad; they simply constitute your existence, independent of your will. They must be completely detached from your virtue, which is above everything else. Let's take an example, in the form of a gradation:
1/ Virtue __: being brave, honest, reliable, fair
2/ Preferred indifferent : ___: being successful, loved, wealthy, healthy
3/ Indifferent not preferred ____ : getting sick, feeling poor, being lonely
4/ Vice _____ : being dishonest, a coward
You have the right to accept preferred indifferents. Stoic morality doesn't forbid wealth or success, but neither does it strive for them intentionally or as ends in themselves. These indifferents must never be an end in themselves, but only the result of your actions, your virtue of doing what you think is best at a given moment and what will allow you to benefit later from past efforts.
What does this mean?
It means that the point isn't to win the competition, but to put everything you have into the competition.
It means that it's not about seducing the person, but trying to seduce them as best you can.
It means that it's not about getting the promotion or making your project a success, but having the conviction that you're putting one hundred percent into your work every day with the intention of succeeding.
So,
in a more spiritual dimension,
you
focus
on the effort itself
and not the outcome.
In the end, the result doesn't matter.
And whether you succeed or fail, you'll always be able to tell yourself that you did your best.
Truly gave your best.
And whatever results from your action is indifferent to you.
And then you'll live in peace.
Without anger,
without regret.