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Philosophy · 11 questions

Stoic Resilience

The dichotomy of control, practiced without pretending that grief is a failure. A higher percent is that practice, not numbness.

About this test

Epictetus opens the Enchiridion by dividing things into what is up to us and what is not. Marcus Aurelius writes as someone trying to use that division on other people, illness, and insult. Modern stoicism, including the work of Donald Robertson, has been careful to separate this from emotional suppression: the aim is not to feel nothing, but to withdraw assent from judgments that say an external thing is a catastrophe you must obey. These items are original. A high score is the practice. Agreeing that a strong person feels no grief lowers the score on purpose.

Question 1 of 11

What this test asks
  1. When something is outside my control, I still get to choose what I tell myself about it, and I try to spend my effort there.
  2. A harsh opinion stings less when I remember it is their judgment, not a fact about my worth.
  3. If I cannot control an outcome, the distress is mandatory. There is nothing left to practice.
  4. I can prefer that things go well and still be prepared if they do not.
  5. A resilient person does not feel grief.
  6. I rehearse a setback in advance so it does not own the day if it arrives.
  7. I would rather want what is worthy than demand that events match my wish.
  8. Comfort is the measure of whether a day went right.
  9. When I am insulted, I ask whether the claim is true before I ask how to answer the person.
  10. I can care about people deeply and still accept that I do not control their choices.
  11. A strong person does not ask for help. Need is weakness.