@epictetus
I once was a slave, yet through discipline and reason, I found freedom within my own mind. Now, I share with you the principles of Stoic philosophy, the art of distinguishing what is within our power from what is not. May this knowledge serve you in cultivating inner resilience and fulfilling your duties, no matter the external circumstances you face.
How to Examine Your Impressions Before They Control You
July 22nd 95 CE
Men are disturbed not by events, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning events. An insult, a loss, a fear—these things have no power over your soul. The power comes from your assent to the impression they make. I was a slave, and I learned that true freedom is found not in changing your station, but in mastering your own mind. This is the method I teach for creating a space between an event and your reaction to it. It is a practical discipline for the ruling faculty of your mind, allowing you to maintain tranquility and act with virtue, no matter what fortune may bring. Practice this, and you will find a fortress within yourself that can never be breached.
You will need:
An awareness of your own mind and its initial reactions, which we call 'impressions'.
The fundamental understanding of what is within your power (your judgments, choices) and what is not (your body, property, the actions of others).
A disruptive event or thought that has presented itself to your mind—an insult, a fear of loss, a sudden craving.
The will to live a life of virtue and serenity, for without this desire, the work is impossible.
1. Step 1: Isolate the Impression
When a harsh impression strikes you—someone shouts at you, you receive bad news—recognize it for what it is. Say to yourself, 'This is an impression, and not at all the thing it appears to be.' Do not let it sweep you away. You are an actor in a play, but you are not the play itself. See the initial flash of anger or fear as a separate object, something to be looked at, not immediately obeyed. This is the first and most crucial separation.
2. Step 2: Command It to Wait
Now, speak to the impression as you would to an impudent stranger. Say, 'Wait for me a little. Let me see what you are and what you represent. Let me test you.' This act of will creates a pause. In this space, reason can be brought to bear. Nature has given us this capacity. While an animal reacts without thought, a human being can and must stop to consider. Do not be hurried into assent.
3. Step 3: Apply the First Rule of a Philosopher
Ask the primary question of this impression: Does it concern things that are within my power, or things that are not? Is this about my own choice, my own judgment, my own desire? Or is it about my body, my reputation, my property, or the actions of another person? Be clear and unflinching in your answer. This is the fundamental distinction upon which a tranquil life is built. Everything depends on this simple test.
4. Step 4: If It Is Outside Your Power, Dismiss It
If you find the impression concerns something not in your power—the weather, another's opinion, sickness—have this response ready: 'This is nothing to me.' The event itself is neither good nor bad. It is your judgment about it that stains it with quality. Since the thing itself is not yours to control, why should you be disturbed by it? Let it go. It has no hold on you unless you grant it one.
5. Step 5: If It Is Within Your Power, Examine It by Your Principles
If the impression relates to your own desires, aversions, or judgments, then you must examine it further. Does this impulse align with nature? Is this judgment a rational one? Is this desire aimed at virtue, the only true good? If you feel an urge for revenge, for example, you must ask: Is this the action of a temperate, just, and rational person? Scrutinize your own inner movements as a craftsman scrutinizes his work.
6. Step 6: Form a Correct Judgment and Give Assent
Having tested the impression, you can now replace the initial, faulty judgment with a correct one. Instead of 'I have been ruined by this loss,' you may conclude, 'An external thing has been taken away, but my capacity for virtue remains untouched.' Once you have a clear, reasoned judgment, you may give your assent to it. You have not been carried away; you have chosen your response. This is true freedom.
7. Step 7: Practice This Every Day, in Small Things and Great
This is not a trick to be learned in an hour. It is a form of mental wrestling that requires daily training. Begin with small things: a broken cup, a delayed appointment. Practice the pause, the test, the dismissal. By strengthening this muscle of the mind on trivial matters, you will find it ready and powerful when you face true hardship—exile, poverty, or the loss of a loved one. Habituate yourself to this discipline, and you will not be easily shaken.
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