“In this way you must understand how laughable it is to say, ‘Tell me what do do!’ What advice could I possibly give? No, a far better request is, ‘Train my mind to adapt to any circumstance.’… In this way, if circumstances take you off script… you won’t be desperate for a new prompting.”
EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.2.20b-1; 24b-25a
The only problem with having somebody feed you the answers to life’s questions, is that you’re always going to need that person. If they stop supplying the answers, you won’t know what to do.
Thankfully philosophy doesn’t operate that way. What it does do is train your mind to be flexible and adaptable to whatever life might throw at you. That way, no matter what happens, you’re prepared and able to address it. If you study the stoics and apply what you’ve learned, you’ll find that you’re able to think for yourself instead of needing cookie-cutter responses and step-by-step instructions. You’ll remember to simply put one foot in front of the other.
So instead of reading another “what to do if [something happens]” clickbait article, instead train your brain to be resilient, confident, logical, and thoughtful. Teach yourself how to handle any situation, by not focusing on specific answers but rather on how to adapt. Prepare your mind so that you are ready for whatever comes. Give yourself that adaptable mind.
