Imagine living a life unchained by the fleeting emotions of fear or the insatiable hunger of desire.

Seneca presents us with an ideal—the happy life. It is a life governed by a mind that stands unshakable amid the storms of circumstance, a mind that holds its ground against the ravages of fear and the lure of desire.

To Seneca, happiness isn’t about accumulating wealth, status, or sensory pleasures; these are transient and ultimately powerless in contributing to true contentment. Instead, it's about nurturing virtue, the sole and steadfast good that remains constant through life’s ebb and flow. Have you noticed how external events can sway your mood and peace of mind? What if you could maintain tranquility within, even when the world around you is in turmoil?

Remember, everything outside our control is part of the 'worthless mass of things' that neither truly adds to nor subtracts from a happy life.

It's easy to get distracted by life's comings and goings, but it is the inner citadel, the fortress of character, that offers us true happiness. When you face decisions today, consider what leads to virtue, and let all other distractions pass by like leaves in the wind.

Are you willing to reevaluate what you count as 'goods' and 'evils' in your life, and reshape your path to happiness accordingly?