I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT I THINK A LOT OF MY THOUGHT PROCESSES ALIGN WITH THE STOICS (NOT ALL OF THEM OBVIOUSLY, BUT SOME). FROM WHAT I GATHER THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS, IN THE MOST PLAIN WAY, IF YOU SIMPLY EXPECT NOTHING YOU WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED. I WOULDN’T SAY I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THIS THOUGHT PROCESS IN THEORY BECAUSE I THINK PART OF WHAT MAKES HUMANS SO INTERESTING IS OUR ABILITY TO BE SO EMOTIONAL ABOUT THINGS. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT I HAVE A TENDENCY TO COPE/COMBAT MY OWN EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS WITH THIS THOUGHT PROCESS. I THINK THAT MOST THINGS THAT PEOPLE GET UPSET OVER, ESPECIALLY THINGS THAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE OR AFFECT, ARE UNNECESSARY. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO ALL THAT YOU CAN TO ENSURE THAT GOOD THINGS HAPPEN, BUT I ALSO AM A BIG SUPPORTER IN THE IDEA THAT MOST THINGS, YOU SHOULD JUST AS EASILY LET GO. I THINK ANOTHER FACTOR IN REACTION THAT IS MENTIONED IS PERSPECTIVE. AT ONE POINT EPICTETUS WROTE, “WHAT UPSETS PEOPLE IS NOT THINGS THEMSELVES BUT THEIR JUDGEMENTS ABOUT THE THINGS.” I CAN SAY THAT IN MOST CASES I FIND THIS TO BE AN INCREDIBLY FREEING MINDSET. IN REALITY, I THINK THAT THE CONFLICT WITH ANY BATTLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES STEMS FROM PERSPECTIVE. I THINK THAT IF MORE PEOPLE HAD GENUINE POSITIVE OR EVEN NEUTRAL REACTIONS THERE WOULD BE LESS PROBLEMS OVERALL. IF SOME PEOPLE WOULD SIMPLY LET GO OF THEIR PESSIMISM, I THINK THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE GENERALLY HAPPIER AND MORE CONTENT.