Stoava / Guides / The dichotomy of control
The dichotomy of control
The dichotomy of control is the opening idea of Epictetus' Enchiridion and the most practical idea in Stoicism. Some things are in our control and others are not. Our judgments, intentions and actions are ours. Our bodies, reputations, possessions and other people's choices are not wholly ours.
The point is not resignation. It is aiming your effort where it can work and releasing the rest.
What is up to us
Epictetus lists opinion, impulse, desire, aversion and, in a word, whatever is our own doing. In practice this means your effort, your preparation, your honesty, how you treat people and how you interpret events.
What is not
Other people's opinions, the weather, the economy, the result of an interview, your health in the long run. You can influence some of these, but you cannot command them, and tying your peace to them makes it fragile.
Using it daily
- Before a stressful event, write two columns: mine and not mine.
- Define success as doing your part well, not as getting a particular result.
- When you catch yourself complaining, ask which column the complaint belongs to.
- In the evening, review where you spent energy on the wrong column.
Common misunderstandings
It does not mean "do not care". You can care deeply and still accept that outcomes are not yours alone. Nor does it mean doing nothing about injustice; acting justly is firmly within your control.
In their own words
“Some things are in our control and others not.”
Epictetus, Enchiridion 1 (Higginson translation)
Put it into practice
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Ask the OracleFrequently asked questions
Who came up with the dichotomy of control?
It is most clearly stated by Epictetus in the first chapter of the Enchiridion, though the idea runs through earlier Stoic thought.
Is it the same as the serenity prayer?
They are similar in spirit, accepting what cannot be changed and changing what can, but the Stoic version is a philosophical doctrine with its own reasons and exercises.
What is a trichotomy of control?
Some modern writers add a middle category: things we can influence but not control. It is a helpful refinement, not part of the original text.