Event Dont Hurt Us - Only our attitude towards them - The Art of Living

The Art of Living -The Classic Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness, a new interpretation by Sharon Lebell.

Above is the title of the book which I have read few years ago. This book is basically a interpretation of the sayings (The Golden Sayings of Epictetus) and principles of Epictetus, (they say Epictetus walked the talk, a Roman empire slave lived around AD 100 - more info on Epictetus, one can get from Wikipedia). This book explains how to live a meaningful and happy life and still be a good person.

Some of the excerpts from this book, which I liked.

'If you want to live a wise life, live it on your own terms and in your own eyes'

'The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths.'

'Forgive yourself over and over and over again. Then try to do better next time.'

'Give your best and always be kind.'

Approach life as a banquet,

'Events don’t hurt us, only our attitude towards them does.'

Whereas society regards professional achievement, wealth, power, and fame as desirable and admirable, Epictetus views these as incidental and irrelevant to true happiness.

True happiness is always independent of external conditions…your happiness can be found within.

Good book which can be your bedside companion. Sure there are many good books but this is also one among them in my opinion. My bedside companion (for the past ten years) is Lights from Many lamps (more about this book at a later date).

Following is from The Golden Sayings of Epictetus -
A guide, on finding a man who has lost his way, brings him back to the right path--he does not mock and jeer at him and then take himself off. You also must show the unlearned man the truth, and you will see that he will follow. But so long as you do not show it him, you should not mock,but rather feel your own incapacity.