Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
The most important practice in Stoicism is being able to recognise the difference between things we have power over and those we do not. What we have influence over and what we do not.
As Epictetus tells us from Discourses, our chief task is “to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control.” [2.5.4-5]
A good reminder of this Stoic practice is the Serenity Prayer. So this is a good opportunity to take it on board as we learn Stoicism throughout 2026.
[…] to be free of deception about what’s inside and outside our control (and be ready to accept the […]