The Stoic Dichotomy of Control

Most of your stress comes from one single mistake: You are trying to control things that don’t

belong to you. You worry about what people think of you, how the economy

is moving, or whether your flight will be delayed. The Stoics had a brutal name for

this: self-torture. They used a rule called the Dichotomy of Control. It’s the ultimate

filter for your brain. Before you let a thought ruin your mood,

ask: "Is this up to me?" What is NOT up to you? The weather.

The past. Other people’s moods. And the final result of your work. What IS up to you?

Your own effort. Your own judgment. And your own response to what happens. Think of it like