“The More We Value Things Outside of Our Control the Less Control We Have.”

The Best Advice I’ve Ever Received

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received isn’t flashy or complicated—it’s the core tenet of Stoicism: focus your energy on the things you can actually affect.

It sounds simple, almost obvious. Yet in practice, it’s anything but. We spend so much time worrying about the thoughts, actions, and opinions of others, trying to control things we can’t, that we often sabotage our own progress. Energy spent on these external factors is wasted, unnoticed by the people we hope to influence.

Stoicism reminds us that what truly matters is our own mind: our thoughts, our choices, and our actions. Everything else is beyond our control, and fretting over it only clouds our judgment. The people, events, and circumstances around us are largely indifferent. What we can control is how we respond to them.

Since embracing this advice, I’ve noticed a shift. I waste less time on frustration and distraction, and I invest more in the things directly within my reach. The peace that comes from this focus isn’t about avoiding challenges—it’s about approaching them with clarity and purpose.

In a world that constantly pulls us toward the uncontrollable, the best advice I’ve ever received is a simple reminder: act where you can, let go of what you can’t, and watch how much more effective and calm life becomes.

MicG