Epictetus: Guard the good that is yours in every action.…

Your most important possession is not the result of the day but the way you meet it. A promotion, a smooth commute, good news, and other people’s praise can be welcome, yet none is fully yours to command. Your fairness, restraint, attention, and courage are available in nearly every circumstance. Treat those as the things worth protecting. When plans go well, enjoy them without making them your identity. When they go badly, do not hand over your peace along with the lost outcome. In a tense conversation, you may not control whether agreement is reached, but you can speak plainly and listen without contempt. At work, you may not control the decision, but you can prepare thoroughly and avoid blame. This is how you keep your inner resources from being spent by every change outside you. Let circumstances provide material; let character determine the use.