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Epictetus’s Formula for a Happy Life
Stoic wisdom for the ages
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by events happening around you – stressed by things you can’t change, or anxious about the future?
I have.
I remember a time when I was caught in traffic on my way to an important meeting. Seconds felt like minutes. Minutes felt like hours.
I honked and sighed as the frustration built up inside of me. I even blamed myself for not leaving earlier than I had planned. However, none of these reactions moved the cars ahead. All I managed to achieve was to piss more people off.
That’s when I realized I was wasting my energy on something I couldn’t control. So, instead, I took a deep breath, accepted the situation, and used the extra time I had to run through what I wanted to say.
By the time I arrived (which was just in time), I was calmer and more prepared.
After the meeting was over, I reflected on how important those extra few minutes in the car were. Luckily I didn’t squander them like I would have done many years before.
This shift in mindset reflects the teachings of Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher who emphasized that true freedom lies in focusing on what we can control and accepting what we can’t.