In yesterday’s post, we read to “add to knowledge, self-control”. Why is that important?
When we apply self-control to the knowledge that we have, it helps us act with integrity on that knowledge.
We’ve probably all heard the phrase, “knowledge is power”. But only when we act upon knowledge can it become powerful, transformative, and freeing.
Knowledge with self-control helps us manage our desires. It causes us to act with integrity upon what we know. But it also gives us the ability to accept what we cannot control.
Let’s pretend that desire is a coin. On the one side are the things we want and want to happen. On the other side are the things we don’t want and don’t want to happen. When it comes to outcomes however, both sides of the coin are the same – we have very little control over what ultimately happens. We can do all we know to do to try to move towards a certain outcome in any given situation. But if the outcome is not what we desired, remembering that there are things outside our control can keep us from undue disappointment, unhappiness, and despair.
One of the Stoic mindsets is the concept of “amor fati” or “love of fate”. Basically it’s a formula for making the best out of any situation. Not with forced positivity, but with a calm acceptance knowing that all things happen for a reason and this seemingly unwanted thing might actually be for our benefit.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28, NIV
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