Daily Reflection
What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgements about the things. for example, death is nothing dreadful (or else it would have appeared dreadful to Socrates), but instead the judgement about death that it is dreadful—that is what is dreadful. So when we are upset or distressed, let us never blame someone else but rather ourselves, that is, our own judgements.
—Epictetus, Ancient Stoic Philosopher
The wisdom of Stoicism is largely about discernment and judgement. That discernment revolves primarily around the ability to asses whether an outcome is in one’s control—or not.
In many ways, both over-estimating and under-estimating can cause suffering.
If we assume we control too much, we suffer when things do not go our way. If we assume we control too little we lack agency and likewise suffer.
Today, practice stepping back and taking a few moments to reflect and ask yourself—can I control this outcome? If so, how much? If …
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