<p>"Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, [admissions decisions] and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.
…Don’t demand that things happen as you wish, but wish that they happen as they do happen, and you will go on well. "</p>
<p>-Epictetus</p>
<p>amen!!!</p>
<p>What I’m gonna say will sound bitter, but it’s easier to say such things when one gets in.</p>
<p>I’d rather pity some one else then be pitied.</p>
<p>I didn’t get in. I got deferred. </p>
<p>On the contrary, it could really be argued that one might say such things out of a sort of “sour grapes” attitude. I can thus negate the unpleasant emotion of not getting in. </p>
<p>Epictetus goes on to argue that whatever is not in our control is not important–that we should feel neither happy or unhappy to about them. I didn’t get in, but since what the admissions committee decides does not matter, I will feel indifferent about it. Epictetus was a Roman slave, you know–slave morality, literally. I have not, but having is not important because it is due to the whims of fortune, ergo those who have are really not better than me. Indifference and humility are virtues, and pride is not justified–even a sin perhaps. </p>
<p>Level of Happiness:
Accepted: 100
Deferred: ~-90
Rejected:-100</p>
<p>If we adopt the stoic attitude then:
Accepted: 0
Deferred: 0
Rejected: 0</p>
<p>Thus, this is really quite useful if you got rejected or deferred. So, rather than be bitter, we can adopt an attitude that can erase our unhappiness, and possibly subvert the pride of those who got accepted. (sorry for the treachery, Oprah et al.)</p>
<p>This post is meant to offend or denigrate anyone, but is merely a piece of bored self-mocking musing. You should probably ignore it.</p>