These 6 Epictetus Quotes Will Change How You View Life
โItโs not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.โ โ Epictetus
In creating your best life, it would never be wise to expect for the circumstances of your life to be perfect, rather to develop the character required to overcome and thrive through all challenges. โจโจLife happens. Challenges welcome all of us, and so, the difference in the quality of life we lead, is in our response.
However you respond to the challenges of life, determines the quality of your life. โจโจHowever you choose to view the world around you, is what will be reflected back to you.
Do you view life through an optimistic lens, or a pessimistic one?
When life gets toughโฆ when challenges arriveโฆ do you RISE to the challenge, or complain, curse and quit?
The character and strength developed through refusing to quit when things get hard is priceless.โจโจ Remember, it does not matter what happens, it only matters how you REACT TO WHAT HAPPENS.
โจโWe have two ears and one mouthโฆ so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.โ โ Epictetus
Most of us live this way. We talk too much and listen too little.โจโจ We want to be seen all knowing, so we voice our opinion when we donโt knowโฆ and donโt know because we fail to listen.
We all want to be heard, but very few of us hear the other.
Next time you are in a conversation with someone, especially those you care about, practice intentional listening. Do not wait for your turn to speak, just listen, with the intention to understand.โจโจ Be present. Listen more.
โจโจโThere is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.โ โ Epictetusโจโจ
Trying to change things out of our control is often referred to as insanity, most likely because it is.
Accept all things you can not change and work to change all things you can.โจโจ Release resistance and all stress for all things outside of your control. That energy used in fighting against what-isโฆ should be used for something more positiveโฆ like improving other areas of your life you do have control over.
Happiness simply can not come to those who are fighting against life.
โจโจโWealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.โโจโจ
โHe is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.โ โ Epictetus
Gratitude. The greatest power on earth. When you LIVE in it, you are complete. When you live without it, no matter how much you have, youโll never have enough.โจโจ Rich are those who are happy with ALL they have, no matter how much they haveโฆ and usually those are the ones who attract more to be grateful for.
If you donโt already, make gratitude a daily practice. Spend a few moments every day thinking about everything that IS GREAT in your lifeโฆ everything that makes you truly richโฆ all the things money canโt buy.
โNo man is free who is not master of himself.โ โ Epictetus
No matter how much wealth you have accumulated or how much you own, if you arenโt the master of your mind, you can not be free.
Nothing can be more important than mastering your mind, mastering your emotions. โจโจThroughout the years there have been countless stories of millionaires, billionaires and those who seemingly had it allโฆ ending their own lifeโฆ Although they had accumulated a lot of material wealth, they did not feel rich on the insideโฆ and thatโs just it, riches should always begin on the inside.
Society has it backwardsโฆ putting material success and winning on a pedestal when there live so many โwinnersโ who are emotionally void.โจโจFocus first on your mental, and physical health and everything else will fall into place.
โจโFirst say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.โ โ Epictetus
Have that conversation with yourself. First ask exactly what you want to experience in your life. Everything you must have.โจโจ Then, be prepared to work for, sacrifice for, and EARN what you must have.
If you really want it, it wonโt feel like work, you will do the work, you will put in the hours, you will make the sacrifices, but you will do it willingly, with no resistance โ because the OUTCOME will be more important than the time it takes to get there, or whatever you have to give up to get there.โจโจGo on that journey. Find what you really wantโฆ and go get it.
