Pascal, the 17th century French philosopher, once defined the "Error of Stoicism" as "thinking we can do always what we can do sometimes." We've all experienced times of high energy, momentum and enthusiasm in which we are flowing in seemingly perfect harmonywith ourselves and our world. It's as if we can't miss, our timing is so perfect; everything is working together for our own good, inwardly and outwardly. During these peak times, it's easy to be positive, self-assured and to radiate well-being and joy. Yet there are other times, when we are going through a more gradual unfoldment, and things don't seem to come together so quickly or easily. Yet we have a tendency to expect ourselves to be just as we were when things were flowing with such ease and speed. We tend to become frustrated and impatient with ourselves for it not all working out as well as it did before. Yet these are precisely the times when we need to be most gentle and patient with ourselves. When things are working, it's easy to like ourselves; when things aren't working, let's also like ourselves.