How to be Free

The Stoic philosopher Epictetus lived from 55 to 135 A.D. and began life as a slave. One can therefore appreciate his central tenet that mental freedom based on control of the mind is the highest good, as also noted by Victor Frankl in Auschwitz. By not only accepting but welcoming every event, one can achieve peace of mind. Epictetus distinguishes carefully between what is up to us, namely our attitude, and the events and circumstances independent of us. He recommends turning inwards and asking ourselves what resources we have to deal with circumstances as they arise, advising people to behave as you would at a banquet, taking a portion and allowing the dish to pass on. Surprisingly, he advocates temperance, not only in appetites, but also in conversation. And if someone speaks ill of you, you should think that there are many things besides what they say that they do not know about you - moreover, this is just their opinion. To be free is to be self-sufficient in his view, so a person making progress is characterised by 'criticising nobody, praising nobody, blaming nobody, accusing nobody, and saying nothing about oneself to indicate being someone or knowing something.'