Stoic Quotes on Resilience

 

                         Photo by Hunter Schroeder

“It isn’t the things themselves that disturb people, but the judgements that they form about them.” 

 Epictetus

 

The Power of Perspective: How Our Judgments Shape Our Reality

Have you ever watched two people react to the same situation in completely different ways? One person gets cut off in traffic and shrugs it off with a simple laugh and says “Guess they’re late for something important!”—while another turns red, honks the car horn aggressively, and spends the next ten minutes ranting about the downfall of civilization. Same event, wildly different experiences.

This is exactly what the Stoic philosopher Epictetus meant when he said, “It isn’t the things themselves that disturb people, but the judgments that they form about them.” Translation? It’s not the stuff that happens to us that makes us miserable; it’s what we think about the stuff that happens to us.

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Your Mind: The Ultimate Filter

Imagine you’re wearing glasses, but instead of correcting your vision, these lenses tint everything you see. Some people have these awful “doom-and-gloom” lenses, making everything look like a disaster waiting to happen. Others wear “silver-lining” glasses, finding hope and humor even when it rains.

Most of us don’t even realize we’re wearing these metaphorical glasses. We assume that the way we see the world is just the way it is. But the truth is, we are not reacting to life itself—we’re actually reacting to our interpretation of it. And believe or not, that interpretation is something we can change.

The “Judgment” Trap

Let’s say your air flight gets delayed. One person will take this event as a personal attack from the universe. Why me? I always have the worst luck! Meanwhile, another traveler will see a totally different perspective and will take the same delay as an opportunity to grab a coffee, crack open a good book, or just savor the unexpected downtime.

Remember, both people are in the same airport. Same delay. It is just different realities. Why? Because their judgment of the situation is what shapes their experience—not the situation itself.

Now, this doesn’t mean we have to walk around in forced positivity, smiling through gritted teeth when things go wrong. It simply means stopping for a moment and recognizing that we have a choice in how we interpret what happens. And that choice has power.

How to Take Back Control

So how do we apply this wisdom in everyday life? Good question. Here are a few simple shifts to help you see the world through a clearer lens: 👀

Question Your First Reaction

The next time you catch yourself getting worked up about something, pause and ask: Is this situation actually so terrible, or is my judgment making it worse? A traffic jam isn’t the universe out to get you. A spilled coffee isn’t a tragedy; it's more just a minor inconvenience (and maybe an excuse to buy a fresh one).

Reframe the Story

When something frustrating happens, try spinning it in a different way. Instead of “Darn it, I have to go to work,” think instead “I get to go to work and make money so I can afford my coffee addiction.” You see, these small shifts in perspective can make a big difference in mood.

Find the Humor

Life throws these weird curveballs. Sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh. Stuck in the rain with no umbrella? Congrats, you’re in your own tap dancing movie scene with Gene Kelly. Locked your keys in your car? At least you’re not alone—half the internet has done the same.

The Bottom Line

The world isn’t out to get you. Situations aren't always positive or negative. Our experience is shaped by how we evaluate those situations. We have far more power over our happiness than we realize. It takes work, believe me but it's worth it.

So the next time life throws you a curveball, before you freak out, take a deep breath and ask: Is this really a disaster? Or is it just a story I’m telling myself? You might just find that with a little perspective shift, life gets a whole lot easier—and a lot more fun.

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