Epictetus: Do not demand events follow your preference;…

A cancelled plan, an unexpected bill, or a disappointing answer can create a second problem: the argument we start with reality. We replay how the day was supposed to unfold and spend energy resisting what has already arrived. Acceptance does not mean calling every event good or refusing to improve it. It means beginning with the facts instead of a fantasy. Once the train is delayed, you can choose whether to complain for an hour or use the time to read, rest, and notify the person waiting. Once a mistake is made, you can learn, repair, and adjust the process. The event may still be unwelcome. Your response need not make it worse. Today, catch one sentence beginning with “this should not be happening.” Replace it with “this is happening; what is mine to do now?” That change opens room for steadiness and useful action.