The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.
Epictetus warned his students of a subtle trap — the more we hinge our happiness on praise, wealth, or external approval, the more vulnerable we become. One of his students once asked how to become unshakable. Epictetus pointed to a rusty chain hanging from the ceiling and said, 'Your freedom ends where your attachment begins.' If fortune owns your mood, then you're not free — you're leased.
Reclaim your power by valuing what lies within: your thoughts, choices, and character.
"Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want."