Quote:
Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan
Epictetus said that it's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. Stoics believe that the only thing you can control is your own mind, temperament, demeanor, and actions. No point in worrying about the external chaos that you cannot control.
People always have a choice about what kind of person they want to be. Using your past as a reason to act ####ty is not valid.
It would seem that Fleury never read Epictetus to gain the benefit of this wisdom...actually I'd be shocked if he read anything of any substance at all.
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While I agree with the statements, I would say it only applies to the ones capable of hearing them. As been pointed out by several posts, reactions are not predictable, nor are the easily controllable.
I would say most people go through life thinking/knowing what they know and reacting to that. It is a big step to take to look inwardly and deal with what causes your reactions. This is why it happens less often then one would believe it should.
I give credit to many posters here for their education and knowledge. I also try to understand why some people are so stuck in their ideology/viewpoints. At the same time I see many people who are hurt/damaged/reactionary and try to emphasize with them as well.
A little rambly, but ultimately I believe it is important to try to realize that others do not know what you know and may not be capable of ever knowing. It takes the person to be able to look inside and deal with what they find. That is something that to some is so huge it may never happen.