Epictetus quotes on controlling what you actually can (Anxiety Cheat Code)
stoic Perspective
Desire for control is the one of psychological roots of anxiety. If there's an ultimate cheat code for surviving anxiety, it's the Dichotomy of Control. It is interesting concept that have it's own flaws for sure, but also have some good insights. Epictetus constructed his entire worldview around drawing a brutal, uncrossable line between your actions and literally everything else.
"Some things are in our control and others not."
— Epictetus
"He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at."
— Epictetus
If you don't take yourself too seriously, the world loses its leverage to embarrass you.
"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."
— Epictetus
"We are not disturbed by things, but by the views which we take of them."
— Epictetus
"Everything is objectively neutral by it's nature. On example volcanic eruption by itself is just movement of tectonic plates and molten core. In nature it is neutral process, but if it burns your house down, for you personally it is disaster and something bad, evil, or however we call it."
"Don't demand that things happen as you wish, but wish that they happen as they do happen, and you will go on well."
— Epictetus
This is Amor Fati in action. Stop fighting reality and start working with whatever cards you were dealt.
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
— Epictetus
"Any person capable of angering you becomes your master."
— Epictetus
"Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."
— Epictetus
"Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion... things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command."
— Epictetus
Your effort tonight is in your control. What questions the professor puts on the final exam tomorrow is totally outside your control.
"Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control."
— Epictetus
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Surrender the outcome. Master the effort.