Difficulties are what show men's character. Therefore when a difficult crisis meets you, remember that you are as the raw youth with whom God the trainer is wrestling.
The Discourses
- Epictetus
Each day we are confronted with opportunities to exercise our reason to separate those things over which we have control from those over which we have no control. And then we have the ability to guide our responses to events in either category as they occur.
How much of our day is spent playing with past difficulties or even creating difficulties where none exist? The past contains lessons around how we might choose to respond to future events, but it does not contain events that can be altered. Past difficulties are nothing to linger over as they become like myths in that with time it becomes difficult to sort out fact from fiction. We are deceived by our memories of the past believing our minds to be like hard drives rather than a personal library of vague associations. Why are these books side-by-side? Because I bought them on the same day. Our energy should be dedicated to the opportunities of the present moment. And I choose that word, opportunities, with some thought. Every moment, not to create to much tension, is an opportunity to exercise our judgement and response. As it was said, don't show me your weights, show me your muscles. Our judgement and will are like weights that we have to keep exercising.
If we are sitting at a meal with many guests and the dessert is making it's way around the table, it's an opportunity to wait, be patient and allow the others to take their share. When the dessert arrives, there is an opportunity to take one or pass it along. And then, regardless of the choice, not to make a show of anything. Don't announce you don't want dessert or draw attention to your choice simply act and pass it along. Events are like that dessert. We know they are coming around the table and we are going to have to respond when they arrive. We can decide how we will respond--whether we make a show or simply deal with it in a rational way.
Consider your day to be like a trip to the gym--an opportunity to exercise your Stoic Freedom over difficulties and, equally important, non-difficulties. Keep well.
If we are sitting at a meal with many guests and the dessert is making it's way around the table, it's an opportunity to wait, be patient and allow the others to take their share. When the dessert arrives, there is an opportunity to take one or pass it along. And then, regardless of the choice, not to make a show of anything. Don't announce you don't want dessert or draw attention to your choice simply act and pass it along. Events are like that dessert. We know they are coming around the table and we are going to have to respond when they arrive. We can decide how we will respond--whether we make a show or simply deal with it in a rational way. Consider your day to be like a trip to the gym--an opportunity to exercise your Stoic Freedom over difficulties and, equally important, non-difficulties. Keep well.
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