Enchiridion 1, and part of Keith Seddon's commentary on it

 

Enchiridion 1, and part of Keith Seddon's commentary on it

Chapter 1
[1] Some things are under our control, while others are not under our control. Under our control are [opinion], [impulse], desire, aversion, and, in a word, everything that is our own doing; not under our control are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, everything that is not our own doing. [2] Furthermore, the things under our control are by nature free, unhindered, and unimpeded; while the things not under our control are weak, servile, subject to hindrance, and not our own.

[3] Remember, therefore, that if what is naturally slavish you think to be free, and what is not your own to be your own, you will be hampered, will grieve, will be in turmoil, and will blame both gods and men; while if you think only what is your own to be your own, and what is not your own to be, as it really is, not your own, then no one will ever be able to exert compulsion upon you, no one will hinder you, you will blame no one, will find fault with no one, will do absolutely nothing against your will, you will have no personal enemy, no one will harm you, for neither is there any harm that can touch you.

[4] With such high aims, therefore, remember that you must bestir yourself with no slight effort to lay hold of them, but you will have to give up some ​things entirely, and defer others for the time being. But if you wish for these things also, and at the same time for both office and wealth, it may be that you will not get even these latter, because you aim also at the former, and certainly you will fail to get the former, which alone bring freedom and happiness.

[5] Make it, therefore, your study at the very outset to say to every harsh external impression, "You are an external impression and not at all what you appear to be." After that examine it and test it by these rules which you have, the first and most important of which is this: Whether the impression has to do with the things which are under our control, or with those which are not under our control; and, if it has to do with some one of the things not under our control, have ready to hand the answer, "It is nothing to me" (Epictetus, Enchiridion 3; Oldfather).

"This, then, is the first exercise we need to train in (Handbook 1.5) – to
respond to every unpleasant impression by testing and examining it
(Discourses 2.18.24). So if we see that the paint has been spilled all over
the floor, instead of getting angry or otherwise reacting emotionally (for
this is really the cause of happiness eluding us), we should actually stand
back from what has happened and commence a discourse and ask the
impression whether it concerns anything that is in our power, and when
we understand that it does not, the proposition that we assent to is ‘this is
nothing to me’. The successful Stoic student, upon facing such a decorating catastrophe, will be able to calmly attend to what needs
doing, dispassionately clearing up the mess and moving on" (Seddon, pp. 37--8).

Keith Seddon (2005). Epictetus' Handbook and the Tablet of Cebes 

Enchiridion 2, and part of Keith Seddon's commentary on it