Just Deal With It
“Is your cucumber bitter? Throw it away. Are there briars in your path? Turn aside. That is enough. Do not go on and say, "Why were things of this sort ever brought into this world?"”
—Marcus Aurelius
Meditations
This quote from Marcus Aurelius is a potent reminder that we are often in control of our response to the circumstances we encounter.
It's natural to occasionally get lost in the 'why' of negative situations, but the Stoics argue that such contemplation can be unhelpful and distracting.
Instead, they urge direct, purposeful action—if you find bitterness, discard it; if your way is blocked, plot a new course.