How to Stop Worrying and Start Living: Control What You Can, Accept the Rest

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash

Do you ever feel like you’re wasting your time and energy by worrying about things you can’t control? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of people struggle with this issue. The good news is that there are ways to deal with it. In this blog post, we will discuss the Stoic philosophy of mindfulness and self-confidence. We will show you how to stop worrying and start living!

“Another person will not do you harm unless you wish it; you will be harmed at just that time and which you take yourself to be harmed. In this way then you will discover the appropriate actions to expect from a neighbor from a citizen from a general if you are in the habit of looking at relationships.” — Epictetus

We all have a choice. Most of us don’t realize this. We think the world is out to get us. When we minimize the power we have over our choices, we suffer unnecessarily. Stoicism is a practical philosophy that can help us deal with difficult situations. It teaches us to focus on what we can control and accept the things we cannot control.

One of the Stoic principles is mindfulness. This means being aware of your thoughts and emotions without judgment. It’s about accepting things as they are. When you’re mindful, you are in tune with exactly the things you can, and cannot, control.

Here are some things to think about when you feel like things are out of your control:

• What is the worst that could happen? Oftentimes, the results aren’t as bad as we make them out to be.
• Will any of this stuff matter in 5 years? 10 years? We can calm ourselves down when we expand the timeline from an immediate one to a longer one.
• What can I do to prepare for or prevent this from happening? Releasing control doesn’t mean you’re okay with just about anything happening. Wrong. Prepare as much as you can for the things you can control. But always understand that there are many things outside your purview.
• Is there anything I can do to change the situation? Many times, you can do something to change it.
• If the answer is no, then what can I do to accept this and move on? Embrace the things over which you have control. Adjust your behaviors to maximize on those things.

Stay mindful. Control what you can. Accept the rest. That’s how to stop worrying and start living! Thanks for reading. Stoic philosophy can be useful in many aspects of life!