In the words of Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, “No man is free who is not master of himself.” This simple phrase carries a profound significance when it comes to eliminating unnecessary stress from our lives and approaching our individual struggles with clarity and logic. How much of the stress from our daily existence is truly under our control? Epictetus suggests the key to enlightenment comes when we examine our lives with an eye towards what is within our power; our mindset towards any given situation and the actions we take when faced with challenges, large or small.
We can utilize Epictetus’ phrase as words of comfort and affirmation, meant to orient ourselves in an internal positivity as we take steps towards creating the destiny we want for ourselves. It is an opportunity to unburden ourselves, to let go of the baggage of the past or the uncertainty of the future, instead prioritizing what we do in the moment and ensuring that our time and effort is spent properly. Some external factors are never within our control, yet how we choose to handle them is.
Putting Epictetus’ wisdom to practice means making the most of life and any situations that may arise. It is about investing ourselves into a mindset of growth and change, while mastering adjustments in our lives, both incremental and great. It is about striving to build the future we want to see made manifest, and approaching life’s challenges with growth, while fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves in the process.
When we dust ourselves off and dare to put ourselves out there, even after something as painful as fresh heartbreak, we show the universe that we are open, receptive and ready for good things to come our way. This means letting go of past mistakes, no longer letting them affect the person you are now or the one you wish to become. This is not a resignation, but rather a manifestation of positivity and a rejection of doubt and negativity. It is not easy to embrace this philosophy, and we should always allow time for ourselves to heal, but when we are ready to recognize and embrace the power we have over our own lives, the possibilities that follow are endless.