Epictetus compared life to acting in a play whose script you didn't write. Your job isn't to choose the role or the length, but to play whatever part you're given as well as you can. There's deep relief in this. You're responsible for your own performance, your effort and honesty and care, not for directing the entire production. So much of our strain comes from trying to control the whole story, others' parts included. Doing your part well and releasing the rest isn't passivity. It's an honest division of labor between you and a world that was always larger than your hands. Tend your role. Let the play unfold.

Inspired by the old idea of dichotomy of control. Written by Ugo Charles.