It is not things that disturb us, but our judgments about things. — Epictetus, Enchiridion
Epictetus, a former slave who became one of Rome's greatest philosophers, understood suffering intimately. He taught that external events—loss, rejection, pain—have no inherent power over us. What matters is how we interpret them. This insight remains revolutionary because we still blame circumstances for our unhappiness, rarely examining the judgments we've layered on top of them.
Reflection
Today, notice one situation that troubles you. What is the raw fact? Now separate it from your interpretation. Is there a different judgment you could hold about it—not denial, but a perspective that empowers rather than diminishes you? This small shift is where freedom begins.