I think it is very important to not be too much on social media.

The words of Max Verstappen—“I think it is very important to not be too much on social media. You have a lot of positive comments but also negative ones, and at the end of the day, that shouldn't affect you, but it is much more important not to read it so you just don't know.”—are the counsel of a warrior who has learned that the greatest battles are not fought only on the racetrack, but in the mind. He reminds us that the voices of the crowd, whether they sing praises or hurl insults, can cloud the clarity of purpose. To remain steadfast, one must not live by the ever-changing winds of positive and negative comments, but by the constancy of one’s own discipline and truth.

The ancients, too, warned of the dangers of living for the voices of others. The Stoics taught that fame and criticism are both distractions, for they lie outside our control. Epictetus declared that it is not what others say of us that matters, but how we guard our reason and virtue. In the same spirit, Verstappen advises us to not read, to not consume, so that the poison of judgment—whether sweet or bitter—does not seep into the soul. For ignorance of such noise is not weakness, but a shield against distraction.

History offers us shining examples. Consider the tale of Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, who carried the weight of ruling an empire and yet reminded himself daily in his Meditations not to be swayed by the clamor of praise or the sting of blame. He wrote that applause is fleeting, and criticism just as fickle. Like Verstappen, he knew that if the ruler—or the competitor—anchors his worth to the opinions of others, he becomes their prisoner. Only by turning inward, by listening to reason and purpose, does he remain free.

Verstappen’s wisdom also points to the hidden danger of even positive comments. For though praise may feel sweet, it is a subtle chain. When one becomes addicted to approval, the absence of it feels like failure. The hero then begins to act not out of conviction, but to satisfy the crowd. This is why he warns us not to dwell in the endless scroll of social media, for in it lies the trap of living through the eyes of others rather than the strength of oneself.

Yet his words do not call us to despise others, but to preserve balance. To step away from social media is to reclaim the quiet space where the heart can breathe, where effort and discipline can stand apart from judgment. In such silence, one remembers why they began their journey, not for the claps of the multitude or the jeers of critics, but for the pursuit of excellence, for the love of the craft, for the joy of the struggle itself.

The lesson for us is clear: do not let your worth rise and fall with the voices of others. Praise and blame alike are shifting shadows; they cannot guide your path. Protect your mind by setting boundaries, stepping back from the flood of opinions that seek to shape you. Anchor your worth in your effort, your integrity, and your purpose. Let your victories be measured not in likes or comments, but in the quiet knowledge that you have given your best.

So, dear listener, take Verstappen’s counsel to heart. Guard your soul against the noise of the world. Seek not constant validation, nor fear constant critique. Instead, live as the ancients taught and as the champion reminds us: with focus, with discipline, with the courage to turn away from the crowd and walk your own path. For in that silence, unshaken by voices, you will find not only freedom, but strength. And in that strength, you will endure.