All in with Prof Massimo? Absolutely! Thank YOU, and Epictetus, for simplifying matters both great and small. Practical and humorous, i can utilize the fundamental Stoic principles which, when applied, can easily lift layers of mental mischief and congestion.
How does one know where the division is between what is in our control and what is not? What about gray areas and consequences? I have been living in a rent-stabilized apartment for 25 years. My landlord-tenant relationship has gone from amicable to hostile to “forced friendly cooperation.” Unfortunately, I became permanently disabled and the apartment leaks when a storm with wind blowing from the southeast hits. He knows and keeps repairing the interior and does not repair the cause of the problem--outside. I prefer an “open dialogue,” or diplomacy, if you will, because there are always problems all the time wherever you live. Yesterday he finished all interior repairs and it was yesterday morning where I was actually looking at the wind forecast due to the rain. We left it as he promised he will have a contractor look at it in September. But he promised in December and January he would do so in March, April, May, June, July, August and now September. A landlord’s mantra is to put off to tomorrow that which you don’t have to do today. I am reluctant to call the city because that is the nuclear option. He will be summoned with citations and be forced to repair. It will also cut all dialogue between us. He’ll be angry and it will be “hostile.” I’ve had and seen neighborhood hostile landlord-tenant relationships and they’re not for me. I called once because he ignored me and called me back angry. I withdrew the city inspector call. I prefer open dialogue at all costs. Why am going on here? Because analyzing this example is an sublime exercise for me on how to assess dichotomy of control. These are only words (by Epictetus). I don’t want to say I am living in fear, but I do live with anxiety. I know I cannot control when a storm will come again. And it will. My anxiety, however, is 100% in my control. So now with a perfect interior, in a wonderful city in a great neighborhood at a marketably low price, how do I enjoy each day until the southeast wind and rain storm? The wind analogy has reached from the mouth of Epictetus to my bedroom in NYC in 2023. 😊
I get the intellectual side of choosing ideas and ways of looking at things via free will, but where do natural emotions figure in? There are plenty of good reasons to be angry, sad etc that spur productive action. Is the idea to take action? Not dwell on things out of our control. I can't really imagine being okay with getting my head chopped off!
Very practical.....thank you....
"I am condemned to death. Do I have to die moaning and groaning as well?"
I am condemned to drive on roads where many have little regard for the safety of other users. Must I do so bitching and cursing?
I am trying my best not to.....and slowly my attitude is changing......less bitching and more equinimity....thanks Epictetus....
All in with Prof Massimo? Absolutely! Thank YOU, and Epictetus, for simplifying matters both great and small. Practical and humorous, i can utilize the fundamental Stoic principles which, when applied, can easily lift layers of mental mischief and congestion.
How does one know where the division is between what is in our control and what is not? What about gray areas and consequences? I have been living in a rent-stabilized apartment for 25 years. My landlord-tenant relationship has gone from amicable to hostile to “forced friendly cooperation.” Unfortunately, I became permanently disabled and the apartment leaks when a storm with wind blowing from the southeast hits. He knows and keeps repairing the interior and does not repair the cause of the problem--outside. I prefer an “open dialogue,” or diplomacy, if you will, because there are always problems all the time wherever you live. Yesterday he finished all interior repairs and it was yesterday morning where I was actually looking at the wind forecast due to the rain. We left it as he promised he will have a contractor look at it in September. But he promised in December and January he would do so in March, April, May, June, July, August and now September. A landlord’s mantra is to put off to tomorrow that which you don’t have to do today. I am reluctant to call the city because that is the nuclear option. He will be summoned with citations and be forced to repair. It will also cut all dialogue between us. He’ll be angry and it will be “hostile.” I’ve had and seen neighborhood hostile landlord-tenant relationships and they’re not for me. I called once because he ignored me and called me back angry. I withdrew the city inspector call. I prefer open dialogue at all costs. Why am going on here? Because analyzing this example is an sublime exercise for me on how to assess dichotomy of control. These are only words (by Epictetus). I don’t want to say I am living in fear, but I do live with anxiety. I know I cannot control when a storm will come again. And it will. My anxiety, however, is 100% in my control. So now with a perfect interior, in a wonderful city in a great neighborhood at a marketably low price, how do I enjoy each day until the southeast wind and rain storm? The wind analogy has reached from the mouth of Epictetus to my bedroom in NYC in 2023. 😊
I get the intellectual side of choosing ideas and ways of looking at things via free will, but where do natural emotions figure in? There are plenty of good reasons to be angry, sad etc that spur productive action. Is the idea to take action? Not dwell on things out of our control. I can't really imagine being okay with getting my head chopped off!
Well, I'd kinda like to hold on to my delusion about having a non-detachable noggin, but other than that ... .
Such awesome, unique, and so wise teaching and philosophy! Thank you for posting this, Massimo...once again!😊