A useful place to start
Use a Stoic idea in a difficult conversation
Marcus is AutoMessage’s Stoicism assistant. Describe a situation and ask him to help you distinguish what happened, what you think it means, and what you can choose to do next.
Describe the event before interpreting it
Try ‘my colleague interrupted me twice’ before ‘my colleague doesn’t respect me.’ The first sentence describes an event. The second adds a conclusion about someone’s intention. Ask Marcus to help you keep those two parts separate.
You can then explore what you can influence: the words you use, the question you ask, or whether you pause before responding. You cannot choose another person’s reaction in the same way.
Turn the idea into a response
Ask for two possible responses and the tradeoff in each. One might address the interruption immediately; another might arrange a conversation afterward. Choose the response that fits the circumstances rather than treating calmness as silence.
A useful draft could ask to finish a point without judging the other person’s motives. Revise the words so they sound like you. The practical exercise is to choose a response you can explain, not to prove you never feel frustrated.
Check quotations before sharing them
If Marcus introduces a quotation, ask for the author and work. Verify the wording in a reliable edition before quoting it elsewhere. A modern summary can express a Stoic idea without being an ancient quotation.
A journaling app can help you keep a sequence of reflections. Marcus offers an ongoing text conversation around a specific situation. You can use the conversation to find a question and write your own reflection separately.
How can I respond when a colleague interrupts me?
Text Marcus what happened before explaining what you think it means: “A colleague interrupted me twice in a meeting. Help me separate the event from my interpretation, then compare addressing it now with speaking afterward.” Ask what you can control in each response.
Choose one option and draft a sentence in your own voice. Ask Marcus whether the sentence describes the interruption without claiming to know the other person’s motives. You can acknowledge frustration and still choose a response; the exercise is not a requirement to suppress a feeling.
Messages to try
Use a message as a starting point. Change the details to fit your situation.
A coworker interrupted me twice. Help me separate the event, my interpretation, and the response I can choose.
Give me two ways to respond, with the tradeoff in each.
Is that an exact quotation? Name the work so I can check it.
Common questions
Do I need to know Stoic philosophy first?
No. Describe an everyday situation and ask Marcus to explain one relevant idea in plain language.
Can I ask Marcus to help draft a response?
Yes. Ask for possible responses and their tradeoffs. Choose and revise the words yourself.
Try a conversation with Marcus
Start with the question you want to work on. The conversation continues in your phone messages.
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