"**To prevent becoming overwhelmed** by the world around us, we must, as the ancients practiced, **learn how to limit our passions and their control over our lives**. It takes skill and discipline to bat away the pests of bad perceptions, to separate reliable signals from deceptive ones, to filter out prejudice, expectation, and fear. But it’s worth it, for what’s left is truth. **While others are excited or afraid, we will remain calm and imperturbable. We will see things simply and straightforwardly, as they truly are—neither good nor bad.** This will be an incredible advantage for us in the fight against obstacles." ([Location 258](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00IX49OS4&location=258)) --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[mindfulness]], [[self-control]], [[adversity]], [[problem-solving]], [[obstacle-is-the-way]], [[stoicism]], **Source** -- [[202409180132 - B - The Obstacle is the Way]]