This is How to Be Free by Epictetus + Other Salient Meditations
Freedom lies in perception.
Freedom equates to happiness according to the Stoics.
What Epictetus recommends isn’t complete liberation from the consequences of your actions, but freedom of mind so you don’t suffer for yearning after what you don’t or can’t possess.
So you can take risks without crippling worry.
So you don’t disrespect yourself. Or make costly decisions because you were overcome by unbridled desire.
So you can direct your full attention and time toward wise strategic moves that’ll liberate you in the real world.
You’ve attained this freedom if you can lose everything and still be happy. Not giddy; but at least you’re not spiraling on a self-destructive path.
For that to happen, it’s wise to know
“Some things in the world are up to us, while others are not. Up to us are our faculties of judgment, *motivation, *desire, and *aversion—in short, everything that is our own doing. Not up to us are our body and property, our reputations, and our official positions—in short, everything that is not …
