Core Concepts
It is not external events that disturb people, but rather the judgments and perceptions they form about those events.
Abstract
The author shares how a profound quote from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus helped him overcome a major life crisis. The author was 33 years old when a "meteorite had just hit [his] life, reducing it to ashes." He struggled for 3 months to fully grasp the meaning of Epictetus' quote: "It is not things that disturb people, but the judgments they form about them."
The author explains that Epictetus' teachings are often dismissed as "common sense" that people ignore, believing "life is not that simple." However, the author argues that life is actually easier than it seems, and that we often complicate it through our own negative perceptions and judgments.
Applying Epictetus' insight, the author was able to overcome 10 years of pain and suffering. The key realization was that it was not the external events themselves that were causing his distress, but rather the judgments and interpretations he had formed about those events. By shifting his mindset and perspective, he was able to find relief and move forward.
Stats
It took me 3 months to grasp this Epictetus quote.
The author was 33 years old when a "meteorite had just hit [his] life, reducing it to ashes."
The author overcame 10 years of pain and suffering by applying this Epictetus quote.
Quotes
"It is not things that disturb people, but the judgments they form about them." — Epictetus