The Stoic concept of the "indifferent" helped to distinguish between what is within our control and what is not from "summary" of Stoicism by John Sellars
The Stoics believed that there are certain things in life that are within our control and others that are not. They referred to the latter as "indifferents," which included things like wealth, health, reputation, and even life itself. These externals were considered indifferent because they did not have any bearing on our moral character or virtue. By recognizing that these externals were outside of our control, the Stoics believed that we could free ourselves from the anxiety and distress that often comes with trying to manipulate or change them. Instead, they encouraged focusing on what is within our control, namely our thoughts, actions, and resp...
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