The ancient Stoics knew that setbacks in life are inevitable. In fact, Stoics believed that setbacks were challenges from the gods to test their ability to deal with adversity.
By viewing setbacks as tests of resilience and resourcefulness instead of sheer misfortune, Stoics stayed calm and happy in the face of adversity.
Think of it this way: we can’t control the hardships that befall us. We can only control our response to those hardships. Victims let every problem make them feel down and defeated. But you don’t have to be a victim. Instead, you can look at every setback as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Like riding a bike or speaking a foreign language, resilience is a skill you can develop with practice. Learn how to treat every problem as a stepping stone to a better future with our Instaread on The Stoic Challenge.
