Epictetus

M manager at work loaned me this book of philosophy called The Art Of Living by Epictetus. Epictetus was a Greek slave who was mentally gifted and earned his freedom through his studying.  He later established his own university and taught for many years; one of his pupils was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (who became ruler of the Roman Empire).  Epictetus' foundation for his philosophy was the notion that every person, regardless of social status, had the capacity for living a noble, fulfilling, and ultimately joyful life.  He taught that peoples' perceptions of who you are are irrelevant and wrong, just as your perceptions of people are irrelevant and wrong.  He taught that self-improvement (constant progress, not perfection) was of the noblest human endeavors.  I love his teachings, I want to apply them to my life,  I have a long way to go on the road of self-actualization, (becoming the best possible version of myself) but this book is very helpful.  For instance, he writes "Content yourself with being a lover of wisdom, a seeker of the truth....Do not try to seem wise to others.  If you want to live a wise life, live it on your own terms and in your own eyes."

Something he wrote that really hit me was "If someone irritates you, it is only your own response that is irritating you...People don't have the power to hurt you."  Another great quote is that "The surest sign of the higher life is serenity. Moral progress results in freedom from inner turmoil. You can stop fretting about this and that."  His teachings are something anyone can greatly benefit from, he didn't believe that enlightenment and peace are limited to the intelligent, or the artistically  gifted.  In fact, he believed that often times people of intellect, or other gifts, are very unhappy despite seeming as if they have envious qualities.  His teachings are quite simple, and i believe therein lies their subtle wisdom.