This is from Stoic philosopher Epictetus, from his writing “Enchiridion” –
“Of things, some are in our power, and others are not… Examine it by this first and chiefly, whether it relates to the things which are in our power or to the things which are not in our power: and if it relates to anything which is not in our power, be ready to say that it does not concern you.”
Many people get upset and try to control things that are not in their control. This is a recipe for frustration and angst.
Things that are not in our control largely involve what other people do or say, what happens at the neighbor’s house or on the other side of the world, the weather, and all that is on the news.
Want to be happy? Control the controllables, and let the rest go, as it is not your concern.
Easy to say.
Practice.
Hello , from Ethiopia. It exactly resonates with my todays state.
Grateful to Larrytius😁
for years I’ve lived by the adage, if you can fix it, do it asap. If you can’t or it’s not fixable stop worrying about it.
Epictetus, the name meaning almost literally ‘acquired one’; a slave, tortured and abused. Without the notes of his student, his teachings would never have made it into the keen hands of Marcus. An Emperor who reminded himself of the destructive history of having absolute-power by reading the lessons of a man who seldom had any at all. Aren’t we lucky after 2,000+ years, we can learn and reflect on the words by these people.