The Archer's Lesson: Control and Letting Go

"Some things are within our power, while others are not."
– Epictetus, Enchiridion

I often return to this simple but powerful truth: we can control the aim, but never the target.

The Stoics compared life to the work of an archer. Our task is to prepare, take aim with care, and release the arrow. But once it leaves our bow, the outcome is no longer in our control. The wind may change, the target may move, or unforeseen events may intervene.

Too often, I've caught myself frustrated when the arrow didn't land where I wanted – letting disappointment or even anger take root. But the Stoic reminder is clear: our job is only to focus on the shot itself – our effort, our discipline, our choices.

That lesson came alive for me recently when I noticed how easily one small event (entirely outside my control) determined my mood and interfered with my work. In that moment, I had a choice: stay tangled in frustration, or pause, breathe, and remember the archer's wisdom.

We can't always control the results. But we can control how we show up, how we respond, and where we direct our energy.