Epictetus compared life to acting in a play. Your job is to play your part well; choosing the part isn't up to you. You can pour care into your effort, your honesty, your attention, and still not control how it's received or how it turns out. That split is freeing once you feel it. When you've done your part fully, you've done the only thing that was ever truly yours to do. The applause, the outcome, the verdict of others sit on the far side of a line you can't cross. So give your work everything, then let it go, and rest in having tried well.

Inspired by the old idea of play your given role well. Written by Ugo Charles.