We can still learn from great people of the past !

EPITETUS Greek philosopher

The first cognitive behavior therapist, so to speak, in the Western world was the philosopher Epitetus (c.50-138 AD). He was born a slave in the Greek-speaking Roman province of Phrygia.

One day when Epitetus was working in the fields chained to an iron stake, his master approached him with the idea of tightening his leg shackle. Epictetus suggested that making the shackle tighter was not needed to keep him from running away, but would merely break his leg. The master was not persuaded, and sure enough Epictetus's leg was broken. But he did not protest or give any sign of distress. His master asked him why, and was told that since the leg was already irreversibly broken, there was really no point in getting upset about it.

His master was so impressed by this demonstration of unflappability that he eventually set Epictetus free, and sent him away with money so he could become an itinerant philosopher. Epictetus considered this preferable to being a philosopher chained to a stake, and eventually came to Rome, then the capital of the Western world. Among the prominent Romans he influenced, was the emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Here are some of his most important ideas, which have stood the test of 1900 years astonishingly well.

Control

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have accepted this fundamental rule, and learned to distinguish between what you can and cannot control, that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.

Where trouble really comes from

Things themselves don't hurt or hinder us. Neither do other people. How we view things and people is a different matter. Strange as it may seem at first, it is our own attitudes and reactions that give us the most trouble. We cannot always choose our external circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them.

Nothing to lose

Nothing can truly be taken from us. There is nothing to lose. Everything, including one's own life, is on loan from the world. Inner peace begins when we stop saying of things, "I have lost it," and instead say, "It has been returned to where it came from."

The important thing is to take great care of what you have while the world lets you have it, just as a traveler takes care of a room at an inn.

It was not written by me and do not remember where I have it from. I just know that it helped me through difficult moments and still does.