It seems we often consider ourselves the victims in this game of life. When things go poorly, we let the uncontrollable events dictate our emotions and actions. When we have been mistreated or wronged, we let these occurrences determine how we live.

One of the core teachings of the stoic philosophers was to realize that, while we cannot always control outside events, our perception of them and how we react to them are all our own doing. If one has control over their mind, they can dictate how they act in any situation. As one of the most famous Stoics, Marcus Aurelius, writes, “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” This same thought is taught by another Stoic, Epictetus:

“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”

Statue of Hamlet from Bancroft Gardens — Stratford-upon-Avon, England

This philosophy is not unique to the Stoics and has been reiterated by many throughout history. One of the most famous examples comes from literature’s favorite Prince of Denmark: Hamlet. After a spiraling set of events that leave Hamlet in a state of depression, he remarks how Denmark is the worst prison on Earth. When his friend, Rosencrantz, disagrees with him, Hamlet explains that it isn’t for him to say. Everything is the perception of the individual. He explains, “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

But how true is this sentiment? While it seems nice in theory to accept that external events are beyond our control and that we only have power over our mind, is this really something attainable?

In the 1940s, this philosophy was put to the ultimate test. World War II brought one of the lowest moments in humanity’s history. During the Holocaust, millions were taken from their families to be killed or kept as prisoners in concentration camps.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe — Museum in Berlin, Germany

So in this dark hour, how did the Stoic’s advice hold up? The psychologist Viktor Frankl was one of the many Jewish prisoners to experience these horrors firsthand. After surviving the Auschwitz, Theresienstadt, Kaufering, and Türkheim concentration camps, Frankl and his fellow prisoners had experienced what would seem like enough to crush even the mightiest soul. Despite this, Frankl writes:

We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

Viktor Frankl explains how, at what is possibly humanity’s darkest point, the victims of concentration camps were able to choose how they reacted to such horrid conditions. When pushed to the limits, the wisdom of our ancestors still seemed valid. We are often presented with terrible misfortunes in life, but the way we react and handle them is all our own doing.

This sentiment is obviously easier said than done. When reading of Frankl’s experience, I found the mental strength those prisoner’s possessed inspiring. They had the ability to control their reactions in that Hell on Earth. While most of us will never even remotely experience the same hardships those prisoners did, I believe we should all strive to follow in their example. In doing so, we can better equip ourselves to face the challenges that come our way. My personal efforts in attempting this has helped me alleviate anxiety and improve my perceptions of the negative events that come my way. If you practice this philosophy with the small daily misfortunes, you can better prepare yourself for the more challenging times that tend to follow. The person who sees every small mishap in life as a reason to give up will often only perpetuate this habit when given a catastrophe. On the other hand, someone who always strives to accept outside events as uncontrollable and does their best to react accordingly to the small issues will likely be able to cope better to the major downfalls as well.