joy · you delight in still having a thing · relationships · God
what you just named
You came in joy, not pain: that you delight in still having a thing, in your relationships — specifically with God — and you reached for the Stoic voice first. That's what you've named. Listen now to what it answers.
- Stoic
Spirit
mind
The grip on outcomes loosened long ago, and you can see in retrospect how it freed you. The temptation in savoring this loosening is to settle, as if the loosening were finished — as if you are done with the work. Epictetus does not let his student close the chapter. On every event that befalls you, turn to yourself and ask what power you have for turning it to use. The loosening is not a one-time accomplishment. It is a daily practice of meeting events as they come and asking what you can make of them. The grip has loosened. Today brings a new event. Loosen toward today's event as you loosened toward the old ones.
heart
The loosening is daily. Bring it to whatever happens today.
connection
You stand in the line of all who knew that a loosened grip is not a finished state but a daily practice — the contemplative who kept his openness through new news every morning, the widower who knew his loss had loosened him and still met today's surprise with the same open hand.
Action
Today, when the first unexpected thing happens, turn to yourself and ask: what power do I have for turning this to use? Let the asking be the practice.
Reference
On the occasion of every accident (event) that befalls you, remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use.
Epictetus, Enchiridion 10
practice
Asking, on each event, what power you have for turning it to use
principle
A loosened grip is a daily practice, not a finished state
value
Openness met afresh each day