I’m writing a book tentatively entitled, The Searching Pilgrim : A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to an Allegory about a man trying to find The Way to sanctification.
The section below occurs when Dante is taking Chris, the protagonist, through the Inferno when they encounter the stoic philosophers in Limbo. There’s not much humor in this section, but it has some good ideas on how to deal with situations we can’t control:
ZENO OF CITIUM: As the father of Stoic philosophy, I believe that the path to happiness comes from adjusting to those things we confront on our walk through life. Health, wealth and pleasure, for example, are not good or bad in themselves, but it is how we react to situations that determines our happiness. If you accept my philosophy being rich or poor means nothing; it is how we react to affluence or poverty that determines our happiness. Whatever happens were should accept calmly and dispassionately.
DANTE: That would go along with what Saint Paul says: “I’ve learned to be content in all things.”
CITIUM ZENO: The thoughts of my follower Epictetus summons the essentials of our philosophy:
- It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
- We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
- First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
- No man is free who is not master of himself.
- Only the educated are free.
- If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.
- Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.
- Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.
- Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.
- There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things that are beyond the power of our will.
DANTE: CBT—cognitive behavior therapy is based on Stoic philosophy. You know, change your thoughts about what happens and you will feel better. Thoughts come before feelings.
CHRIS: Hey, I how come I don’t get to say anything.
CITIUM ZENO: Epictetus also said, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
DANTE: The reason for this walk into Hell is to help you find The Way. The people who are most successful in finding The Way are those who do much more listening than talking.
CHRIS: Maybe so but without me there would be no comic relief and some of this stuff causes me to stop and take a nap.