(Note:  This is a foreshadowing of my next post…stay tuned.)

From Epictetus Discourses Book 3, Chapter 8:

As we train ourselves to deal with sophistical questions, so we ought to train ourselves day by day to deal with impressions: for these too propound questions to us.

•  ‘The son of So-and-so is dead.’–Answer, That is beyond the will, not an evil.
•  ‘So-and-so’s father has disinherited him: what do you think?’–It is outside the will, not an evil.
•  ‘Caesar has condemned him.’–That is outside the will, not an evil.
•  ‘Something has made him grieve.’–That is an act of will, and evil.
•  ‘He has endured nobly.’–That is an act of will, and good.

If we acquire this habit, we shall make progress, for we shall never assent to anything but that of which we get a convincing impression.

• The son dies. What happens?–The son dies.
• Nothing more?–Nothing.

‘Still’, you say, ‘Zeus does wrong to act so.’

Why? Do you mean because He made you patient, noble-minded, because He saved these things from being evil, because He puts it in your power to endure these troubles and still be happy, because He ‘opens the door’ to you, when your position is impossible? Leave the scene, man, and do not complain.”

My takeaway of this lesson:  You have the power to endure troubles and still be happy.