3 Lessons from Legendary Stoic Philosopher Epictetus’ Manual for Living
Stoic philosopher Epictetus' Manual for Living stands as i of the greatest Stoic classics. And that'south saying something, given that
Stoic philosopher Epictetus' Transmission for Living stands as one of the greatest Stoic classics.
And that's saying something, given that information technology shares space with work from legends like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius.
Stoicism's practical wisdom has had a resurgence over the past decade, with authors such as Ryan Holiday and Tim Ferriss offering their ain reflections on Stoic thought and many others taking from that wealth of wisdom to live happier and overall ameliorate lives.
Though non equally well known every bit Aurelius' Meditations or Seneca's Letters from a Stoic, Epictetus' Transmission for Living offers communication only equally wise and powerful.
It's not what happens to y'all, but how you react to it that matters.
– Epictetus
Here are three lessons from Stoic philosopher Epictetus' Manual for Living.
i. Concentration and sacrifice are required to realize your desire
Epictetus' reminder to concentrate on our one great desire is a lighthouse beacon in a night, storm-drenched world where every driblet of rain is a potential lark or new path nosotros tin take.
Between smartphones, social media, the Internet in general, and the new and varied opportunities those things have brought with it, what was already a civilisation conducive to brusk attending spans and splintered concentration has gone over the border.
If you desire something, something groovy, a dream you take that you desire more than than anything, yous absolutely must give your total and undivided attention to that thing. If non, your chances of accomplishing or realizing it are slim to none. And, yep, that volition require yous requite certain things upwardly or, at the very to the lowest degree, place them to the side for now while you pursue your dream.
Similar to concentration, realizing your great want will also require sacrifice, something you lot must be willing to do. Epictetus says that y'all must expect at the entire picture, the piece of work information technology takes to get there, what people who have gotten there earlier had to give upwardly, and yous have to be willing to do that piece of work and make those sacrifices. If not, information technology's probably non the right thing for you.
2. Know what is in your ability and what is not (and use information technology to inform how you live)
Stoicism sometimes gets a bad rap as being a bit grim, given that negativity isn't but a topic sometimes discussed by relevant Greek and Roman philosophers simply something discussed and advised on at length.
Just that's because life is filled with challenges and Stoicism is most learning how to alive better. Anyone who thinks you can acquire to alive better past focusing on positivity all the time and avoiding the nighttime stuff is delusional.
1 such relevant topic is power. Specifically, knowing what is in your power and what is not. More recently, that's been described using the term "circumvolve of influence," referring to the group of things which yous have power over and those things outside the circumvolve which you don't.
Epictetus reminds us that some things are in our power and other things are not.
The actions of others, how others think of us, and what happens to others are all largely outside our control. Or, at the very least, nosotros don't have total control over them.
And when we try to control those things we become frustrated and finish upwards making ourselves endure as a event.
We should strive to right the wrongs we see in the world and pursue our dreams, but it'south important to understand that we only have so much time, free energy, and resource and that, because of this, some things are exterior of our control.
3. Always remember that decease is shut at mitt
In those Eastern countries where in that location are roots of Buddhist practice, reflecting on decease was once a more common practice.
Nevertheless, in the West, it's shunned like an ugly dark secret.
Sure, no one actually likes thinking about the fact that they're going to dice someday. Still, it's the truth. And because it's one of life's great truths — that is, the impermanence of all things — if you tin learn to navigate this truth then yous can apply it to alive better.
Epictetus urges us to remember that death is e'er close considering by doing and then we won't accept a single 2d of it for granted.
What once might take been a trying grind through mud and dirt can become a more exciting and inspiring journey by reflecting on impermanence from time to time.
Source: https://www.goalcast.com/3-lessons-stoic-epictetus-manual-living/
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