1st Installment - Stoicism of Epictetus #8

Epictetus was a former slave who was much occupied with the nature of freedom and the things in life that cannot be slaved, such as one's private thoughts. He taught that the only way to happiness is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. The best-known mark of stoicism is its attitude of resigned acceptance, which is an understandable attitude to take if the universe really works the way the Stoics said it does. If fate rules the world, and much of what happens is out of our hands, then it makes sense to be realistic and to wish only 'for everything to happen as it actually does happen', as Epictetus put it. There is no point in getting worked up about things you cannot change. And there is no point in getting too attached to things you are bound eventually to lose.

I would say that typically when someone is calling someone else stoic, they are implying that the person is serious, lacks expression of emotions, and comes off as not caring about anything. I disagree with this common mistake. People tell me I look so serious all of the time when really i'm just thinking in idle mode. When something really exciting happens and i'm not jumping and screaming with glee like everyone else it tends to bother some, but really i'm am happy and jumping and screaming would probably just distract me from the happiness and make me exhausted. The way I like to think of it is that by not getting really excited and showing out that your excited you wont get torn up when something comes up and changes your plans; hence, when something does happen and changes your plans, the fact that you prepared for a multiple of factors that can change things and were ready to accept anything unexpected, you cant really let yourself get torn up. This 'preparedness' pushes me to do things now so that one day in the future ill be prepared for the inevitable and anything else. For example, I have always been a grandmas boy and loved growing up at my grandmas. I used to spend every single day at her house until I started college. Now it seems like I've only seen and spoken to her a handful of times over the past 3 years. It bothers me having to choose between her or an education when prioritizing my time. I cant believe shes already 65; and considering the poor health that shes in, I know that my time left with her is limited to a few years. Most people would say I shouldn't think about that because it can sound depressing, but id rather think about it while shes here so that I can prepare for her passing while shes still by my side. This way I can really value any chance I get with her now rather than taking it for granted like ill have her forever. I don't want to regret not saying something that I should have said before she passes. I believe that when the day comes, because of this preparedness thinking, maybe it will hurt just a little less. If I never think of it and don't reach out to her more now, then one day it will seem unexpected and the grieving will hit me all at once.

Short Clip of Roman Stoics

First Comment on other Installment
Second Comment on other installment