The Good Life Handbook: Epictetus' Stoic Classic Enchiridion

by Chuck Chakrapani

IT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, BUT HOW YOU REACT TO IT THAT MATTERS. EPICTETUS

The Handbook is a guide to the good life. It answers the question, “How can we be good and live free and happy, no matter what else is happening around us?”

Epictetus means “slave” or “acquired.”

Stoic writers were “much better writers than I could ever hope to be and they deserve to be more widely read. Indeed, these are some of the greatest philosophical minds and most accomplished writers of all time.”1 My aim is simply to make Enchiridion a little more accessible to the first time reader.

To achieve freedom and happiness, you need to grasp this basic truth: some things in life are under your control, and others are not.

What you believe, what you desire or hate, and what you are attracted to or avoid. You have complete control over these, so they are free, not subject to restraint or hindrance. They concern you because they are under your control.

If you think you can control things over which you have no control, then you will be hindered and disturbed. You will start complaining and become a fault-finding person. But if you deal with only those things under your control, no one can force you to do anything you don’t want to do; no one can stop you. You will have no enemy and no harm will come to you.

“You are only an appearance. Let me fully understand what you are.” Then, using the distinction we talked about, examine it to see if it is under your total control. If it is not within your control, it is nothing to you; there’s nothing to worry about.

If you desire and avoid only those things that are under your control, then you will not feel victimized by things you dislike. But if you resent unavoidable things like illness, misfortune, or death, that are not under your control, you are headed for disappointment.

direct your dislike to things that are under your control but are contrary to your nature.

If you desire something outside your control you are bound to be disappointed.

Whenever you plan on doing something, mentally rehearse what can happen.

When you blame others for your negative feelings, you are being ignorant. When you blame yourself for your negative feelings, you are making progress. You are being wise when you stop blaming yourself or others.

Don’t wish for things to happen the way you would like them to. Rather, welcome whatever happens. This is the path to peace, freedom, and happiness.

If you practice attributing the correct source to problems you face, whatever happens, you will soon find that nothing that happens outside of you pertains to you.

To make progress, you should be able to accept being seen as ignorant or naïve. Don’t strive to be thought of as wise.

Always conduct yourself as though you are at a formal dinner.

When someone provokes you, if you respond with anger or some other negative emotion, your mind is tricked into believing you are being harmed. So it is essential not to respond to impressions impulsively. Take some time before reacting. You will see you are in better control.

You will see that, compared to death, none of the things you face in life is important enough to worry about.

The community will benefit more by the presence of a lawful and loyal member than by material gifts. You cannot be much use to the community if you are shameless and corrupt.

So if you want to be invited, pay the bill and don’t complain about the cost. But if you expect the benefits without paying the price you are not only greedy, you are being foolish.

Remember how wisely you understand when others face unfortunate situations. Apply the same wisdom when something unfortunate happens to you. Learn to accept whatever happens.

If your body was turned over to someone else, you would be ashamed and outraged. Should you not be equally ashamed when you turn over your mind to others so they can control it? Why do you let your mind be controlled by anyone who happens to criticize you? Why do you get confused and upset?

When you are about to undertake a project, consider not only what is involved now but what it would involve later. Otherwise you would plunge in enthusiastically at the beginning and end up quitting in disgrace when things get difficult later.

No one can hurt you unless you let them. You are hurt the moment you believe you are.

first you should stop applying labels like “good” and “bad” to what is not under your control. The labels good and bad apply only to things under your control. If you consider anything beyond your control as good or bad, you will fail to get what you want and get what you don’t want. You will blame the divine order and think of it as the cause of your troubles

No matter what the predictions for the future are, they do not override your obligations now to your friends, family, and country.

Decide first what type of person you want to be and stick to it. Be the same person whether you are by yourself or with others.

Speak with precision and speak about what really matters.

If you want to influence your friends, do it by your example.

When you go to listen to other people’s lectures, remain attentive.

When something looks pleasurable, don’t get carried away by that impression. Take a minute and let it sink in. Then consider its effect at the time you experience pleasure and later. Will you still be happy or will you regret having indulged in something that’s not good for you? Think about how good you would feel if you controlled yourself instead of being swayed by your first impression.

When you decide to do something you believe to be right, don’t let others stop you, even if a majority of people disapprove of it. If it is a wrong thing to do, you should not do it in the first place. But if it is the right thing, then why care about what others think?

Care for your mind as much as you care for your body

As you are careful not to step on a sharp object or sprain your ankle, so you should take care not to do any injury to your character.

Just as you would feel uncomfortable or even fall down when you use the wrong size shoes, so will you stumble if you exceed your limits in other things. Avoid excesses.

treat your critics with compassion. When you are tempted to get back at them, remind yourself, “They did what seemed to them to be the right thing to do.”

you are not your wealth, your diction, or any of the things you own.

Judge things precisely

Not judging others too quickly will save you from misperceiving their actions.

Don’t brag about the principles you follow in life. Don’t even mention them to others. Instead, act according to those principles. In social situations, do not tell others how to behave.

Sheep don’t bring their owners grass to show how much they ate. Instead, they digest it and produce milk and wool.

A wise person understands that help or harm come exclusively from herself. An ordinary person, on the other hand, looks for help or harm from others.

You do not care if others think you are naïve or stupid. Your only concern is to keep your focus on yourself, so you don’t damage your progress.

Your actions are the only things you can be proud of

Once you undertake to do something, stick with it and treat it as something that should be carried through. Don’t pay attention to what people say. It should not influence you in any way.