The beauty of choice

Epictetus wrote that you are not your body and your hair-style, but your capacity for choosing well. If your choices are beautiful, so too will you be.

You often fall into the trap of appearances. The life of X seems better than yours because he has Y. That's a big mistake. Maybe who you admire the most is trapped in a toxic relationship, has unhealthy addictions, and hates his life. Or maybe not. The thing is that you never know what's happening in the background; you can't feel attracted to someone only by physical appearances.

Think about something you own, that someone with lower status may don't. The latest iPhone, a new computer, maybe a fancy Tesla. Those things only made you happy months before you bought them, and a few months after the purchase. But after a while, you get used to them, you probably get bored, and you look for the next thing.

Things won't satisfy you for a long time. It's ok to have desires and get things that you enjoy, but you can't let those things define you.

Your choosing capacity is more important. If you decide to be healthy, no matter how much money do you have in your bank account, you'll find a way to do sport, you'll avoid drinking, and you'll walk away from smokers. If you choose to be free, no matter how much money they offer you to do Z, if you don't like it, you won't do it.

Virtuous are those who can decide their path without being distracted by external circumstances.