Stoic Senseis, Vol. 1: Epictetus—The Philosopher Who Would’ve Told You to Stop Whining
Welcome to Stoic Senseis—your midweek moment of grounding, grit, and “oh right, I can survive this.” Every Wednesday, we’ll unpack one Stoic who mastered the art of not giving in to the chaos, no matter how loud the world gets.
First up? Epictetus.
Born into slavery. Lived with a limp. Had every reason to throw a pity party, but instead? He built an entire philosophy around owning your response to everything—no matter how unfair, unplanned, or un-freakin'-believable it feels.
Epictetus 101: Born Screwed, Still Unbothered
This guy didn’t grow up in a villa sipping wine and philosophizing in a tunic.
Epictetus was enslaved, probably abused, and walked with a physical disability his entire life. And yet… he didn’t spiral. He didn’t crumble. He became one of the clearest, calmest minds to ever walk the earth.
His basic philosophy?
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
Translation: Life can—and will—get messy. But you? You don’t have to get messy with it.
The Gospel of Epictetus (Savage Edition)
Here are a few hard truths from the Epictetus playbook. Read 'em. Flinch a little. Then rise.
1. You’re not in control of most things.
Not the weather. Not your ex. Not the comment section.
But your mindset? That’s always your domain. Epictetus wants you to stop outsourcing your peace to outside chaos.
2. Suffering = Expectations Colliding With Reality
If you’re upset, it’s probably not the event—it’s your attachment to how you thought things should go.
Epictetus would hand you a metaphorical crowbar and tell you to pry that expectation out of your brain.
3. It’s not what happens to you…
This one hits different.
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
That wasn’t just a line from Epictetus—it was a theme in my childhood.
My mom, who had every reason to fold under the weight of her own brutal upbringing, didn’t.
She lived through some real shit. And yet somehow, she came out the other side tougher, sharper, and still able to love.
She used to drill that lesson into me, not with fancy philosophy, but with real-life grit:
“Life is 10% what happens to you—and 90% what you do with it.”
That’s Epictetus in a nutshell. And it stuck with me.
Turns out, she was my first Stoic Sensei—and I didn’t even realize it.
W.W.E.D. – What Would Epictetus Do?
Your plans fall apart?
→ “Cool. That wasn’t the path. Adjust and keep walking.”Someone talks shit about you?
→ “Did you die? No? Then let them talk. You know who you are.”Life throws a full tantrum?
→ “You’ve trained for this. Stay solid.”
Shadow Work Prompt – Epictetus Style
Where are you resisting reality?
Write about the thing you're fighting to control.
Now ask: What if I let go of needing it to go my way? Who would I be without that expectation weighing me down?
Mic-Drop Quote to Tape on Your Mirror
“Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.”
—Epictetus
Next Week: Seneca’s Turn in the Hot Seat
The Stoic who talked big about simplicity while lounging in wealth. A vibe. A contradiction. A cautionary tale in robes. See you then.
Until next time—
Drop the drama. Keep the dignity.
And if the world’s spinning too fast?
Channel your inner Epictetus... and don’t flinch.