Habits of people who can always live positively even when faced with challenging events - 2024.1.16
A)
1)
If you avoid sickness, death and poverty, you will be unhappy. Even if you think you are ignorant or stupid, be satisfied. As a life lesson, it's a moment. Some words make you feel.
But when the speaker is a philosopher born into slavery, you can imagine what it means.
2)
Epictetus, the Slave Philosopher: Life Lessons'' has been a bestselling book since its publication in 2019, telling the life lessons of a unique ancient philosopher with amazing cartoons and simple explanations.
Epictetus is seen as one of the proponents of Stoicism, which is currently all the rage in Silicon Valley. What is the mysterious world of Epictetus that allows us to rethink our lives deeply?
B)
3)
To be caught up in status and honour is unhappiness.
How can ordinary people, unattached to status, wealth or power, enjoy freedom and live happy lives? What kind of wisdom is needed?
4)
Hiroyuki Ogino, a professor in the Department of Philosophy at Sophia University's Faculty of Letters, says the challenges posed by the philosopher Epictetus, who was born to slave parents in Roman times and spent his youth as a slave, are directly relevant to the lives of modern people. Hiroyuki writes:
5)
Although the message of a philosopher is not at all familiar in Japan, "Epictetus, the Slave Philosopher: Life Lessons" has become a bestseller since its publication in 2019. Many people may seek something new in today's world, where life remains difficult.
6)
This book's key feature is that Epictetus's story is first developed in a unique comic set in ancient Rome, then supplemented with memorable words and easy-to-understand explanations. This structure makes it overwhelmingly easy to understand.
C)
7)
For example, there is an episode in which Nius, a house enslaved person in Rome, is envious of the aristocrats and says, ``I would have been happy if I had been born into an aristocracy.'' Then Epictetus asks:
"Let me ask you, Nius, which do you think is happier: to live a life imprisoned by something or to live freely without being detained by anything?
8)
When Nius replies that he would be happier if he lived freely, Epictetus says this:
"Then, now that we are imprisoned by status and honour, we are unhappy." (P.32)
Status, honour and wealth are not things you can control. But what happens when they become the measure of happiness? You become trapped in something that is beyond your control.
D)
9)
Then, the powerful words of Epictetus are introduced.
The only way to freedom is to look down on "things that are not up to us" (p.34).
Distinguish between "what can be done" and "what cannot be done".
Things that are not up to us' are things we cannot control. Many things that many people desire, such as status, honour and property, are things they have no control over.
10)
You might think, "Well, if you try hard enough, you can get it, can't you?"
But since someone else's intentions and the luck of the times will inevitably play a part, some things are entirely within your discretion. In other words, it cannot be said that "it is up to us." (P.38)
11)
The word "stoicism" comes from the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, and its original meaning refers to "an attitude of deliberate abstinence and patience, rather than simply following one's desires."
Many people, such as athletes and students taking entrance exams, live an ascetic life while pursuing their goals, and this is because proper control of desires is directly related to happiness or unhappiness.
E)
12)
The basic strategy of Stoicism is to determine precisely the boundary between "things that are up to us" and "things that are not up to us" and to limit the object of one's desires to the former, that is, to things that are within one's discretion. It's about doing. That's what they call "abstinence." (P.36)
13)
Don't set your desires on things you can't control, such as your reputation, status, wealth or body. We make things we can control, such as judgement, will, desire and avoidance, the objects of our desires.
Epictetus cites envy of others as the best example of desiring things beyond our control.
F)
14)
Even if you envy someone, it does not mean you can do anything about their status or honour at your discretion. Nevertheless, it is foolish to feel envious when you see the success and prosperity of others, to want to stand out, to be driven by unnecessary competition, and to suffer as a result. (P.39)
Please don't get caught up in things out of our control. This is the shortcut to happiness.
G)
15)
"Hard things" and "bad things" can be turned into positive things.
There are also stories like this. One morning, Nius looked listless. When Epictetus asked, he was told he had had a bad dream. He said he was tied up and could not move.
16)
Epictetus tells Nius this, who is saddened by the prediction that he will be sentenced to some punishment.
"Listen, Nius, a dream itself is neither good nor bad. It's up to the person who sees it to decide whether it's good or bad. In other words, you're the one who made this dream a bad dream." ( P.58)
Epictetus is said to have thought this way. Nius wants to free himself from the thoughts that bind him. This dream could be a sign of growth.
H)
17)
"This is true not only of dreams but of all events; nothing that happens to you is good or bad in itself; it's up to you to make it all good for you." ( P .59)
In the words of Epictetus, this is it.
18)
Whatever comes your way, you can benefit from it (p.60)
Epictetus says, "Distinguish between facts and evaluations." The fact of what has happened is "not up to us", and there is nothing we can do about it, but how we evaluate it is "up to us". The event itself is not evil.
19)
You can use them well even if events don't meet your expectations. I didn't get into my first choice school or company but met some great friends.
That is good, too. Every fact can be used in a positive direction for yourself. Epictetus teaches us this.
Habits of people who can always live positively even when faced with challenging events - 2024.1.16
https://diamond.jp/articles/-/336039
