This is going to take some sweat to accomplish – but it’ll turn you into Olympic-class material.
“The true man is revealed in difficult times. So when trouble comes, think of yourself as a wrestler whom God, like a trainer, has paired with a tough young buck. For what purpose? To turn you into Olympic-class material. But this is going to take some sweat to accomplish. From my perspective, no one’s difficulties ever gave him a better test than yours, if you are prepared to make use of them the way a wrestler makes use of an opponent in peak condition.”
Epictetus – discourses
Epictetus was born a slave around AD 50. It’s not even his real name as it simply means “gained or acquired to one’s hereditary property” – his parents were slaves and the implication was that he was inherited by his owner as a result. He was a cripple for most of his life as his leg had been deliberately broken by his owner. Regardless of his unfortunate start in life, he went on to become one of the greatest Stoic philosophers of all time and his words are still so relevant today.
The metaphor of the wrestler or boxer comes up frequently in stoic teachings. Thinking of life as a series of athletic events is a way of reframing some of the difficult challenges we face. I like to say, when faced with a challenge that comes out of nowhere, “oh the stoic gods are testing me again!”. It’s like each challenge is just another part of our training for the next set of challenges. Just like being paired with a wrestler in peak condition to refine your skill in the ring, the stoic gods throw challenges your way to refine your skill in dealing with all that life throws at you. I use this reframing very frequently and it always makes me smile. Particularly in difficult work situations, when people ask me how I’m managing to keep my cool and work through the issues, I often tell them it’s ok – the stoic gods are just testing my patience or forbearance or my ability to regain my equanimity or whatever. To suggest that there are actually a bunch of gods throwing challenges your way is of course absurd, but in a way, it detaches you from the cause and effect analysis. Not everything that befalls you in life has *anything* to do with you and every challenge you face is not caused *exclusively* by you. Somethings are just simply sent to try us.
So, think of the stoic gods throwing you these challenges as a means to practice and grow stronger.