| Whenever Epictetus saw an anxious person, he always asked himself, what do they want? What are they after? "For if a person wasn't wanting something outside of their own control," he said, "why would they be stricken by anxiety?" We all fall into this trap. What does the anxious father worried about his children want? For the world to always be safe and grief to never find him. The frenzied traveler, what does she want? For no bad weather and for traffic to part so she can catch her flight. And the nervous investor? That the market won't ever dip and that every investment pays off. Having goals and desires in life is fine but needing things to go a certain way to be happy? Getting worked up, getting excited, nervous pacing about things we can't control? Lashing out at people we love, at strangers behind the service counter, all because everyone in the world wasn't following the script we wrote in our head about how things should go? These pained, intense, anxious moments reveal the most futile and servile versions of ourselves. It's almost like we believe if we exchange our peace of mind for stress and worry, the whole world will reward us with what we want. This is why Epictetus's Ta eph'hemin, ta ouk eph'hemin—"what is up to us, what is not up to us," in English–is so key (It's also emblazoned on our Anxiety Medallion, which is back in stock!) It was a reminder to identify what was in our control, what we could shape and influence in life, and what we could not. A Stoic learns to let go of those things we can't control. A Stoic accepts things won't always turn out how we want. And when a Stoic does that, in return we receive moments of peace and quiet. "If you can cut free of impressions that cling to the mind," Marcus Aurelius said, "free of the future and the past—can make yourself, as Empedocles says, 'a sphere rejoicing in its perfect stillness.'" You could argue that Stoic philosophy was basically a set of tools designed to help us combat our stress and worries—to help us focus on what we control. Which is why Daily Stoic has spent the last year designing the Anxiety Medallion—a powerful little device that will bring those lessons to your daily life, something you can carry with you everywhere you go and remind yourself what you're giving up when you allow anxiety to consume you. Imagine how it would feel to discard your anxiety and release nervous energy before… …a big presentation at work?
…a first date with a love interest?
…an important test or job interview?
…going on stage before an audience?
…meeting new people at a social gathering?
…having a difficult conversation with someone? What would it be worth to be calm and present in those moments? How much would you gain if you could show up as yourself, free of worry and concern? Who would you be if you let go of anxiety and take back control of your life? That's what our Anxiety Medallion is designed to help you do. The hole in its center functions as a fidget spinner to twist and turn in your hands to release nervous energy. Or you can rub your fingers against the quotes from Seneca (He who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than necessary) and Marcus (Today, I discarded my anxiety…) and remember to focus on what is in your control and forget the rest. You can have peace of mind. You can make yourself, as Marcus reminds us, 'a sphere rejoicing in its perfect stillness.' Grab the Anxiety Medallion and gain a powerful tool over your anxiety today! | 
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