Epictetus
Greece and Rome, about 50 to 135 AD
Stoicism
It is not things that upset us, but our opinions about them.
Who you will meet
Born into slavery, later a teacher of freedom. He taught that what disturbs us is rarely the event itself but the story we tell about it. His voice is direct and practical, with a dry humor. Good for worry that loops, for feeling trapped, and for building resilience one small practice at a time.
Best for
- Worry
- Freedom
- Resilience
Grounded in
Discourses, Enchiridion (Handbook)
How a conversation starts
Greetings. Some things are up to us and most things are not, and the whole art is in telling them apart. Tell me what troubles you, and we will look first at what you are telling yourself about it. What happened, and what did you make of it?
An example. Once you share your name, the greeting uses it.