The dichotomy of control
The core teaching divides everything into what is up to us (our judgments and actions) and what is not (externals like reputation and body). Serenity comes from investing effort only in the former and accepting the latter.
The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness – A Special 30th Anniversary Edition of Ancient Stoic Wisdom
3 ideas
Events do not disturb us, our views do
Epictetus holds that people are troubled not by things but by their opinions about things. Because judgment is within our power, distress becomes editable by revising interpretation.
Play your assigned role well
He compares life to acting a part the playwright assigned, where our task is to perform whatever role we are given with excellence. Virtue lies in how you play, not in choosing the script.