The True Source of Your Anxiety, According to Epictetus

Epictetus, 1890.Photo byWikipedia Commons.

"Whenever I encounter someone consumed by anxiety, I ask myself, what is it they desire? For if someone isn't yearning for something beyond their control, why would they be plagued by anxiety?" —Epictetus

Consider the anxious father, consumed with worry over his children's safety. What does he desire? A world where danger is non-existent.

Picture the frantic traveler. What is she hoping for? Perfect weather and clear roads to ensure she catches her flight.

Think about the nervous investor. What is their wish? That the market will suddenly turn around, leading to a profitable outcome.

These scenarios, though diverse, share a common thread.

As Epictetus, a Greek Stoic philosopher, keenly observed, anxiety stems from craving something that lies outside our control. The restless pacing, the rising panic, and the knot in your stomach during these anxious moments are all signs of our powerlessness and dependence on external outcomes.

We anxiously watch the clock, track market trends, or scan the skies as though these actions could somehow influence the outcome, like followers of a strange cult that believes the gods will only grant our wishes if we surrender our peace of mind.

Next time you find yourself caught in anxiety's grip, pause and reflect:

• Why is my mind in turmoil?
• Am I truly in control of the situation, or is my anxiety controlling me?
• And most importantly, is my anxiety actually helping me in any way?

Understanding that anxiety often arises from our desire to control the uncontrollable is liberating. By recognizing this pattern, we can begin to shift our focus away from what we cannot change and instead embrace what is within our power—our thoughts, our actions, and our responses to the world around us.

In doing so, we may find that the grip of anxiety loosens, allowing us to reclaim our peace of mind.

“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems.” —Epictetus