“The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.” ~ Epictetus
This one struck me recently regarding an argument about gun grabbers on X.
Life is successfully navigating the time you have by deciding where best to focus your attention because that’s the ONE THING you can control in life: YOUR MIND.
Controlling your mind is superior to having your mind controlled.
If you find yourself doom scrolling or binge watching content or worrying about something dire that may or may not happen in the future, are YOU fully present in this experience, or are external forces “making you feel this way”?
I’ve become hyper-aware of who or what is “stealing” my time, and I’ve learned to guard my attention like it’s precious. (Oh yes I did, ring ring!)
And I’m applying this “sanity code” to federal politics too.
For example: Conversations about who is or isn’t a gun grabber is not material to my life and I simply won’t expend any more energy on it.
If they pass laws to ban guns, who will comply? It’s an artifical, manufactured hysteria point at this stage, with lucrative vested interests on both sides keeping the issue alive.
Here’s my take: If someone is confiscating guns, I know what I’m doing. Beyond that, I have other things to spend my time on.
Control your mind or someone will control it for you.