Focus Only On What You Control

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible. (Page 3)

Fear Is Not Useful

Scrutinize your notions about death-and everything else. Are they really true? Are they doing you any good? Don't dread death or pain; dread the fear of death or pain. (Page 10) It's much better to die of hunger unhindered by grief and fear than to live affluently beset with worry, dread, suspicion, and unchecked desire. (Page 19)

Others Will Find You Naive If You’re On the Right Track

It is actually a good thing to be thought foolish and simple with regard to matters that don't concern us. Don't be concerned with other people's impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. (Page 20)

Freedom is Acceptance of Restriction

Understand what freedom really is and how it is achieved. Freedom isn't the right or ability to do whatever you please. Freedom comes from understanding the limits of our own power and the natural limits set in place by divine providence. By accepting life's limits and inevitabilities and working with them rather than fighting them, we become free. If, on the other hand, we succumb to our passing desires for things that aren't in our control, freedom is lost. (Page 21)

People Will Never Perceive You Accurately

If people treat you disrespectfully or speak unkindly about you, remember that they do so from their impression that it is right to do so.

It is unrealistic to expect people to see you as you see yourself. If people reach conclusions based on false impressions, they are the ones hurt rather than you, because it is they who are misguided. (Page 70)

Don’t Gloat In Your Wisdom or Poverty

Don't be puffed up with pride if you are able to provide for your needs with very little cost. The first task of the person who wishes to live wisely is to free himself or herself from the confines of self-absorption.

Consider how much more frugal the poor are than we, how much better they forebear hardship.

If you want to develop your ability to live simply, do it for yourself, do it quietly, and don't do it to impress others. (Page 75)

Experiment

To do anything well you must have the humility to bumble around a bit, to follow your nose, to get lost, to goof. Have the courage to try an undertaking and possibly do it poorly. Unremarkable lives are marked by the fear of not looking capable when trying something new.

New experiences are meant to deepen our lives and advance us to new levels of competence; they are not meant to be used by the self-important as fodder for shoring up their previously adopted views and conclusions. (Page 87)

Pay Attention. Very Few Things Are Important.

This is our predicament: Over and over again, we lose sight of what is important and what isn't.

We crave things over which we have no control, are not satisfied by the things within our control. We need to regularly stop and take stock; to sit down and determine within ourselves which things are worth valuing and which things are not; which risks are worth the cost and which are not.

Even the most confusing or hurtful aspects of life can be made more tolerable by clear seeing and by choice. (Page 105)