The Stoics practiced loving their fate, not because every event is good, but because resisting what has already happened only adds a second pain on top of the first. Marcus pictured accepting his circumstances the way you'd accept the weather: it's here, so what now? This isn't pretending hard things are fine. It's stopping the inner argument with reality so you have energy left to respond. When the day hands you something you didn't choose, you can feel the disappointment fully and still ask, gently, what's the next wise move. Acceptance comes first. Then comes the doing.

Inspired by the old idea of amor fati, accepting what is. Written by Ugo Charles.