Enchiridion Chapter 8 / 53
The idea Epictetus shares here may at first appear triggering and uncomfortable for most people.
But if you suspend knee-jerk resistance and explore this process properly, you will, as Epictetus says, experience “the path to peace.”
This post is a deeper dive and exploration on that cliche piece of advice people give when they say we should start "letting go of things we can't control" when we feel stressed.
Sometimes you want things to go a certain way.
You might want to pass an exam, you might want to get a raise, you might want to make a good first impression, you might want people to laugh at your jokes, you might want your ex to get back with you, or you might want to win the lottery.
When you notice that you are hoping events turn out the way you desire, stop. Instead, welcome events in whichever way they happen.
You do not have control over the external events in your life, but you do have control over your judgements.
You can, therefore, choose to want things exactly as they appear.
If you consistently do this, you may not gain the externals that you once wanted, but you will gain inner-peace regardless of the circumstances.
ENCHIRIDION, CHAPTER EIGHT, EPICTETUS, TRANSLATION BY ROBERT DOBBIN:
Don’t hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen: this is the path to peace.