Accept what you cannot control from "summary" of How to Be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci
The Stoics were adamant about the fact that some things are simply not up to us. There is very little we can do to change the past, for instance, or to control the actions of others. All we can do is focus on our own judgments and actions. This is why they emphasized the importance of distinguishing between those things that are within our power and those that are not. By focusing on what is within our control, we can avoid unnecessary stress and frustration. We can learn to let go of the things that are beyond our reach. This doesn't mean that we should resign ourselves to inaction. On the contrary, the Stoics believed that we should do our best to influence the world around us. But once we have done all that we can, we must be willing to accept whatever outcome comes our way. In this way, the Stoic practice of accepting what we cannot control is not a form of passivity. Rather, it is a form of empowerment. By acknowledging our limitations and focusing on what is within our power, we can become more resilient and better equipped to deal with whatever life throws our way.- The Stoics believed that by accepting what we cannot control, we can achieve a greater sense of inner peace and tranquility. We can learn to let go of our attachment to external things and focus instead on cultivating our own virtue and wisdom. This, they believed, is the key to living a good and fulfilling life.
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