We are living through a moment. It almost seems biblical in a lot of ways. It’s not fun. It’s scary, frustrating and confusing. We have moved from a global pandemic to a national family feud. However, we shall come through this. Just as I believe COVID-19 will unearth new technologies, best practices and other things we determine are “good” so will the civil unrest we are witnessing. As a country we are in a valley. Lest we forget, in the valley is where the good stuff grows.

The Stoic philosopher Epictetus offered some great advice on this matter:

But if you attempt to avoid disease or death or poverty, you will be unhappy. Take away then aversion from all things which are not in our power, and transfer it to the things contrary to nature which are in our power.

We still have so much control in our lives even in the midst of these uncontrollable times. Take it! Take the control for yourself! Control your thoughts, then your actions and then you will control your outcomes. You and I cannot control the acts of others. I cannot control whether someone deems me a racist because of the color of my skin. I can only act in a manner that proves otherwise. “Man”, as Zeno so rightfully noted, “conquers the world by conquering himself.”

Rule yourself and you rule your world. You and I have the power, the choice and now more than ever the duty to be self controlled.

I know there are so many who want to prove they are on the right side of history in this moment. They don’t know what to say so they say what they’re told to say. They don’t know what do so they do what they see others do. As for me, I will endeavor to rule myself. When I want to lash out in anger I will say, “No!” When I want to hold someone in contempt, I will say, “No!” I don’t have it all figured out. That’s for sure. However, I know one thing. Before I can change the entire world, I must first rule my personal one.

You rule!

With love, understanding and hope,

Jason