The Obstacle is the Way

• Definition: A love of fate.
• Insight: The goal of amor fati is to love all that happens to us, for every situation, and make the best of it.
• Insight: We cannot choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we feel about it: so we should choose to feel good, with every situation.
• Insight: Opportunity lies in adversity: we can emerge stronger and empowered.
• Principle: Love everything that happens.
• Reference: Nietzsche: "My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it . . . but love it."

"Don't let the force of an impression when it first hit you knock you off your feet; just say to it: Hold on a moment; let me see who you are and what you represent. Let me put you to the test."

- Epictetus

Insight: Impressions can be objective or subjective.

Insight: Perceptions are weak, observations are strong.

Principle: Practice objectivity: aim to see things are they really are.

"In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices."

- Epictetus

Insight: It is critical to distinguish what you can control from what you can't.

Insight: Every bit of energy focused on what you can't control is wasted.

Principle: Focus on what you can control.

"persist and resist."

- Epictetus

Principle: Persist in effort.

Principle: Resist in giving in to emotion, distractions.

• Reference: In Montaigne's essays we see proof that one can meditate on death, but not be constantly morbid. Montaigne expressed a sense of clarity and euphoria at his existence through embracing his mortality.
• Reference: Shakespeare: The Tempest - "Every third thought shall be my grave".
• Reference: The Romans would constantly remind themselves of memento mori.
• Insight: Our inevitable death does not make life pointless, rather it makes it purposeful.
• Insight: Our fear of death is an obstacle, and can shape our decisions, and actions.