Philosophy calls for simple living, but not for penance—it’s quite possible to be simple without being crude.
—Seneca, Moral Letters, 5.5
Marcus‘s meditations are filled with self-criticism and so are the writings of other Stoics. It’s important to remember, however, that that’s as far as it goes. There was no self-flagellation, no paying penance, so self-esteem issues from guilt or self-loathing. You never hear them call themselves worthless pieces of crap, nor do they ever starve or cut themselves as punishment. Their self-criticism is constructive.
Laying into yourself, unduly depriving yourself, punishing yourself—that’s self-flagellation, not self-improvement.
No need to be too hard on yourself. Hold yourself to a higher standard but not an impossible one. And forgive yourself if and when you slip up.
* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman