“If you transfer your opinions to what is within your choice, I guarantee you peace of mind, no matter what is happening around you’, says Epictetus in this discourse.

Epictetus 

The human body is the raw material for the physician and physiotherapist. Land is the raw material for the farmer. The raw material for good human beings is their own mind – to respond to impressions the way intended by nature. How did nature intend? To assent to what is true, dissent from what is false, and suspend judgment when uncertain; similarly, to desire what is good, to reject what is bad, and be indifferent to what is neither. 

A banker or a retailer cannot refuse to accept legal currency. They are obliged to accept it, whether they like it or not, in exchange for goods of equal value. So it is with the soul. When you present it with something good, it immediately moves towards it and it is repelled by anything bad. The soul will never reject a clear impression of good, any more than you would reject legal currency. Every action of God and humans is solely based on this principle. Good is preferred above every form of relationship. 

“My father is nothing to me, only the good.” 

“Are you so unfeeling?” 

“It’s my nature. I am so designed by God. If good turns out to be something different from decency and fairness, then off go father, brother, country, and the rest. What! Am I supposed to give up my own good so you can have yours? Why?” 

“Because I am your father.” 

“But not my good.” 

“Because I am your brother.” 

“But not my good.” 

On the other hand, if we place our good in right choice, then maintaining such relationships also becomes good. Anyone who gives up some material things also attains good. 

“My father is wasting my inheritance.” 

“But he is not harming you.” 

“My brother will get a bigger inheritance.” 

“Let him take as much as he likes.” 

Will he take a greater share of honesty, loyalty, and brotherly love? No. Not even God can do that. He placed my good nature in my power and gave it to me, as he has it himself – free, clear, and without restrictions. 

Different people may use different currencies. If you pay them in their currency, what they sell can be yours. A corrupt person comes to power. What currency does he recognize? Money. Show him the money and you can carry off what you please. You face an adulterer. What currency does he recognize? Pretty girls. Offer the right currency and get what you want. Another is addicted to boys. Give him his currency. ... They may groan and complain but will have an inner compulsion to sell what you like for the currency you offer. 

Here is how you train yourself. Go out early in the morning. ...Someone grieving for the death of a child? Apply the rule. Death is beyond your choice. Dismiss it from your mind. ... It failed the test. Reject it. It is nothing to you. 

If we practiced this way every day from morning to night we would see some results. As it is, though, we are half asleep and overcome by every impression we face. ...What is misfortune? An opinion. What is subversion, dissension, complaint, blame, accusation, or foolish talk? All mere opinions, things that are not subject to our choice. 

If you transfer your opinions to what is within your choice, I guarantee you peace of mind, no matter what is happening around you. 

The soul is like a bowl filled with water. Impressions are like a ray of light that strikes the water. If the water is disturbed, the ray will seem to be disturbed as well, although it is not. ... Once the spirit returns to normal, so do knowledge and virtues. 

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In this discourse, Epictetus tells us how to train ourselves so we can have peace of mind. This is extracted from Stoic Training, a plain English version of Epictetus’ Discourses, Book 3, published by The Stoic Gym. https://amzn.to/2Tiwd63

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