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

What are things under your total control? What you believe, what you desire or hate, and what you are attracted to or avoid.

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.

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.

Select carefully what you want to choose and what you want to refuse. Be disciplined and detached while making a choice.

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

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

You cannot really lose anything because you don’t own anything in the first place.

“This is such a small price to pay for tranquillity and peace of mind.”

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.

We need to accept what happens to us in the same spirit as we expect others to accept their lot.

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

Everything in nature moves away from whatever is harmful and moves towards whatever is helpful.

While you should take care of your body, you should spend most of your time taking care of your mind.

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

Sheep don’t bring their owners grass to show how much they ate. Instead, they digest it and produce milk and wool. Similarly, don’t make a show of principles you live by.