Thinking method · Marcus Aurelius, Meditations; Epictetus
Sort by what is up to you
Separating the part of a situation you control from the part you do not. When something is occupying your attention and no action is available.
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Separating the part of a situation you control from the part you do not.
The steps
- Write the situation down plainly, before sorting any of it.
- Two columns: what is up to me, what is not.
- Be strict — outcomes, other people and the past go in the second column.
- Act only on the first column. Decide deliberately how you will respond to the second.
- Notice how much distress was attached to column two.
When to use it
When something is occupying your attention and no action is available.
What it will not do
It is a way to direct effort, not a reason to accept what could be changed. Check column two honestly.
Where it comes from: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations; Epictetus. Described in our own words.
The module it belongs to
- Reflective Thinking — Examine your own reasoning