In the last few years, I’ve lost everything. Husband, house, furnishings , jewelry etc. etc. Now I’m slowly dying of cancer, and realize that absolutely nothing is forever, just borrowed. All that matters these days is giving and receiving kindness.

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” Epictetus

*”Do not fear having no friends. Fear having bad friends”* ~My life taught lesson

I remember Slavoj Zizek saying something like this; "There are two tragedies in life, those who don't get what they want, and those who get what they want."

nobody deserves anything we are born with nothing and we leave with nothing.

for the mind that expects too much , life is continually at fault, as reality never satisfies. ~Einzelgänger

After nearly 6 years of feeling entitled to not being single, letting go of that concept is actually proving to be more productive than chasing the "perfect partner". Thanks for the reminder that our partners will almost definitely not check all the boxes. We settle constantly in life in so many ways, and it is part of joy

Everytime I watch your videos. I get to realise how much work I need to do in my unconscious. Thank you

“Until we have begun to go without them, we fail to realise how unnecessary many things are. We’ve been using them not because we needed them but because we had them.” - Seneca

I've practiced and studied religion my whole life. It has always fascinated me. In my opinion Stoic philosophy is the most meaningful and useful for the modern era and our clearly terrifying future times. It's just perfection.

I have always knew this as a notion. Until the earthquake hit to where i used to live in Turkey. The next two days was a shock to me, seeing it crystal clear that this life-my life was never mine. The fleeting nature of everything i have, my friends, my job, my students, my school, my home, the ground i put my foot on to. That anything can happen any time. Yes we survived, but there is no guarantee something else wont happen tomorrow and take everything else that is left. You cant possibly remain in this mindset more than 2 days, then you cant live. We have to do both. Which sounds impossible to me. Now i am living as if i will not die someday. But the understanding of certain things remained. For example i always thought that i will regret for not going to different places for not being brave, for not being outgoing etc when i am in the deathbed at the end of my life or something. But i never thought of those things. I was suffering mostly when i thought about the hearts i ve broken. For the times i couldnt hold myself and got angry at my students, even yelled at them sometimes. Saying mean things to the people i love just because i was depressed or tired. The very clear fact that i cant take any of it back. And everything is buried under ground, there is nothing to do anymore. I made peace with that. Because there is nothing to do except applying the lessons i learned on the future lies ahead of us. I hope you guys can grasp it without actually living it. Thank you einzelganger :)

It always drove me crazy when I went to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and people told me "You deserve a good life." I knew this wasn't true. The world owes us nothing. Not even if we are good people that make good decisions.

Going throughone of the hardest years of my life, brain tumor, and now my fiancee of 5 years going behind my back even during my surgery. This is so true, everyone eventually leaves you no matter the reason.

I've met many people who feel entitled to people or things without deserving them. You should be careful, there is an inmense greed and hunger in the world. Being away from attachments is a blessing!

I love the saying “when people do things To us, they do things For us.”

"Everything in this world is borrowed." says it all. Thank you for this... :)

Basically, everything is going to be okay. Thanks for the perspective.

Makes a lot of sense. Do make choices, do put your effort but remember that nature is alive like an organism and since we are part of nature it helps us to learn to dance to its motion.

Awesome presentation, thank you! I like the following story, which I believe is attributed to the Jewish tradition, but could apply in any tradition: a man went to see a Holy man for advice. While he was there in the small lodging of the wise teacher, he couldn't stop thinking about the fact that the room was almost completely bare. Eventually he blurted out: "Where are all your things? Your furniture, your possessions?" The Holy man replied, 'Well, where are yours?' .. the man responded: 'But I am just a guest here, I'm only here for a short time.' .. the wise man said, "I am too."

One of the greatest pleasures is deriving pleasure from not seeking great pleasure.

I am often overwhelmed by my emotions, but your videos have helped me through the years to deal with them appropriately. Thank you for sharing the wisdom of the stoics.

For me, stoicism is the only method I have found that allows me to be at peace and satisfied with my life. Chasing wants, and “I deserves” is counter productive.

I've implemented minimalism and aspects of stoicism into my daily routine over the past 6 years. Asking myself critical questions through countless hours of introspection has made me more at peace with the person i am now becoming. It's exciting to now have goals and ambitions as opposed to experiencing daily routine as a never-ending struggle, and to work towards reaching them has given meaning to the journey itself. The journey that will lead me to actualize potential i did not previously know i was capable of achieving.

Your content is a gift to mankind.

1) when we attach ourselves to external factors, we limit our happiness to things that are not under our control 2) it's not the person who calls you names, it's not the person that is annoying, it's you who believed these things are insulting. 3) makes you feel less grateful for things you do have. reduce your needs to such a small amount that fortune cannot steal it away from you. get intimate w poverty that it doesn't feel like such a burden 4) Don't ask for things to happen as you want, wish things happen as they do and you find peace in it. 5) if we're all limbs of a body, entitlement is like asking for more resources which will disrupt the balance of the whole body, and ultimately, you won't be happy either.

Just remember if there is for example a narcissist in your life causing you pain and suffering being with toxic people and getting rid of them isn't entitlement it is taking control of what is in your control and that is by getting the toxic out of your life as much as you can.

so this is where the phrase "not your girl, just your turn" comes from

The world owes you nothing. It was here first. ~ Mark Twain

I keep feeling entitled to a better salary working for a first world company from a third world country. That entitlement has become a source of constant anger, thinking obsesively about how much I "should" get paid. This video hits the nail in the head.

It's tough to hold my attention without skipping. You do it VERY well. Wonderful content.

Lots of great points, thank you. There is so much of this entitlement. "What injures the hive, injures the bee."

I needed this lesson today. Was feeling jealous and hurt and sensitive. this really helped put life in perspective

The most painful sense of entitlement is what some call "heaven's reward" the notion that just because you did a good deed such as work hard most of your life that you are entitled to good things, sadly shit just doesn't work like that. Mostly you get what you reward not what you deserve.

I'm glad I discovered this channel. Stoicism has been a difficult practice since I started, but I'm glad it allows me to be gentle with myself.

This meaningful video needs to be shown to all those greedy, dishonest and corrupt politicians of this world who always want to cling to power even at the cost of their own citizens.

Videos like these are like free therapy but actually helpful, learning about the ancient ways of viewing happiness is the most liberating thing I've ever experienced

Temporary gifts… thank you i needed to hear this. Now im gonna toughen up and actually stand up for myself

I had a professor last name Aste, who would always quote "Life is a paradise of lies, mine and yours."

This is what the boss says after you work a full day and he refuses to pay you.

I really enjoyed this video and needed this teaching and talk on entitlement today. It feels good to remain balanced, grateful and grounded in life and it’s something I’ll be complementing for a lifetime ❤

I simply love this chanel. I can't describe how helpful it was for me in so many moments of my life. This is a huge gift, thank you so much Einzelgänger!!

I agree that we must remove our feeling of entitlement to things from our heads, as it is a rather foolish assumption that we own anything in this world. Anything can get legally taken away from us. Thus I am able to let go of a feeling that I deserve something, simply because I never thought I deserve it. I know that all I get is temporary. As is my life. However, there is something I cannot quite understand. "We know we aren't entitled to it, so why hold onto it?" you said. Well, does that mean I should stop feeling attachments to people? Just because I am not entitled to own a person, which I am obviously not, does not necessarily mean I should relieve myself of any emotions I feel. While I do not believe I am entitled to have a girlfriend, I do strongly believe that I am allowed to love a girl. Loving someone is not a sense of entitlement. You do not wish to own the person you love. You wish to protect them. Not because you feel a sense of entitlement towards them, not because you need them to remain in your life, but because you care for theirs. Because you wish best for them. You wish to protect them. Love is not about oneself. Love is all about the other person, and certainly not about you having an "I need to own that girl" mentality.

a couple days ago a 200 bucks perfume i had fell down and broke. my room stank beautifully and i was in despair. but only shortly because i realized...yes. it was a possession and it was never meant to last. ALL THINGS IN THE WORLD WILL COME TO PASS. i can re-earn 200 bucks. i can re-buy this scent any day. had i lost an eye, or an arm, had i been able to rebuy that? eventually i will lose my LIFE, before that, my physical faculties. *ALL THINGS IN THE WORLD WILL COME TO PASS. THE DUDE ABIDES.*

*_To God what He has given, and to God what He has taken_* Thank you very much. I always avoid mentioning anything related to my faith publicly, but just bear with me on this. I've been reading on stoicism since at least 1 year and I'm always amazed with its similarities to my current faith, as said, I always avoid mentioning it publicly but this time, bear with it. The core concept in this video is very similar to another very important concept in Islam that we have a idiom for it, below I'll leave the Arabic text, in English it translates to *To God what He has given, and to God what He has taken* لله ما أعطى ولله ما أخذ

I have been subscribed to/fan of your channel for many years so far, but I'd like to say that out of all other helpful videos you've already uploaded this one is in my opinion the best of them all. I'd like to add to your wisdom that by wanting something you can't have (or as your title sad: don't deserve) you're actually giving your brain a task it cannot solve. The brain does not speak to the individual with words, but it does speak to you with a feeling of unpleasantment. Rather one chooses to address that unpleasant feeling and act on it or choses to suppress it instead and continue one's behavior is up to the individual. I don't think the individual can be blamed for not chosing the right option here, as I think the individual in that case for whatever personal reason doesn't believe yet that he or she to can become happy. Of course, there's always time to learn for as long as that individual lives. :) Thank you for uploading this video.

This is exactly what I needed now. Thank you for the this message. You have really help me today. Thank you again, kind soul.

I typically dont comment or read comments on videos of this nature due to wanting to come to my own divine revelation on what was said but I felt lead to comment today. Also there is nothing wrong with commenting on these types of pages on sage wisdom its just my first time doing so. And this episode comes right on time as I am currently evolving my perspective on a health situation my uncle is dealing with for now. And I must say thank you for another Evergreen episode on a timeless topic👌🏽

I really love your videos and found them at a time in my life when I badly needed them. Peace and love from Ireland!

Tiberius: Mother died, feels horrible. Epictetus: You and your selfish entitlements.

When we don't aim higher than what we already have, we are crushed by the people who do.

Your videos are getting better and better!

Every human being deserves a safe home and to be protected from abuse. Stop saying people who are abused DESERVE it.

Just when the day before I heard and was considering that "I deserve what I want" and "I'm entitled to what I want". Thank you! You're a candle that lights up the neighborhood

These videos always seem to come out just as I need them. :) I've watched so many of these and they have improved my life in many ways. I recently endured a short term toxic relationship falsely believing by stoic teachings that I should have the ability to endure, and make that person better through example. Until one day I came across a writing by epictetus surrounding the removal of toxic people. "Surround yourself with philosphers," and it makes sense. It's not about taking pain continuously but a clever way to deal with aversion until you can remove yourself far, far away from them. The relationship ended and I've never felt so grateful for the simple things I have in life. I've never felt entitled personally but the people I consequently end up being in relationships with, are by their narcissistic nature. I'm kind of a giggling because I know my ex narc would watch some of these with me and say "it's a bunch of shit". 😅 So they'd never value this content with their entiltment alone 🤣🤣🤣. A part of me feels pain for this individual. There is nothing I can do other than control my own actions. I did feel angry because I did at least feel I was owed to be treated with respect by this individual, but as this video points out - it's a waste of time, especially if the other person chooses not to. It was infuriating. However, I've let go now. :)

We feel that way because other people have those things! We hate the unfairness!

Family! The biggest foundation of human society seems where all the 'entitlement' starts early on. My family, my son, my daughter, my next generation...that starts extending to things, pets, lands, countries.. Loss of entitlement is a huge sense of freedom ❤

We deserve everything we can imagine and believe.

Your videos are truly life changing. Thank you tremendously!

The art of being grateful for what we have

Thank you so much I love this channel ❤️

This phrase popped into my head a few years ago and now it runs my life: "You want what you want, but you get what you get."

Thanks so much for all of your amazing and edifying videos. They are truly enlightening and inspiring. I am now trying to incorporate Stoic ideas into my own life as often as possible. It just seems to make dealing with the madness of modernistic life, so much easier. Thanks

There are some useful tools in Stoicism, but I believe that it can foster indifference and encourage acceptance of the status quo. Additionally, I think it teaches people to repress their emotions and be less empathetic.

I already knew that but it’s still fascinating to hear that yes everything and everyone is borrowed and it’s temporary but we can enjoy it until it’s time for god to call us

Man, I needed this video. Thanks!

Thank you so much for this video. I do wish I could share it with my dear mom but she doesn’t understand English… the way you weave the story, the pace, the editing, and of course the content in itself is so deep, rich and engaging! Hard to replicate in simple words. Nevertheless I shall try and share these wise thoughts with her and see if I can find any videos about stoicism in Korean. Thank you again for this great video. It really struck a chord with me. ✨

Quite amazing that Stoicism overlaps with Buddhism in their attitudes towards things. We came naked into the world, and so are we when we leave.

I really needed this video. This definitely is keeping me in check.

Your videos are always very good and I found this one especially helpful in correcting my mindset - thanks!

Thank you. I needed this life lesson/ reminder. Love your work ❤

Ouch. Virtuous parents and fair siblings. I needed to hear this.

Starting a new chapter of my life

Thank you for making and sharing this.

Keep up the good work! Always a pleasure to see a video pop in my feed ❤️

The sense of intitlement if taken away is cause for suffering is only half of the story. In some ways it works getting or holding on to things that you want in the real world. People use this emotion to fight for something or abuse it to manipulate to gain or maintain what they 'have'. Let's say power, wealth, position but also affection. This should be understood aswell before someone uses it against you, especially in case of power.

Watching this, is not less than a meditation ❤

beautiful, thank you so much for making this video

Thank you very much, truly. You never fail to give me a better understanding of things.

Thank you for your video, man! It's a great inspiration

I was feeling really depressed because my wife has become really cold towards me., not even sure if she has some feeling towards soemone else and not sure it when I come back shes going to leave me. I took some days off to see my parents who both have been fighting cancer. Their house its a little piece of paradiese but I feel like im in hell because of all the things go through my mind right now. But this video actually helped me to settle down my feelings now, thank you. Im aware that we are all struggling in life , but cotent like this is what helps to appreciate what we have and how lucky we are to be alive.

Peace to the world and mankind ❤

Owning an object is indeed a strange concept. It is an arrangement of atoms. Atoms created in a supernova explosion billions of years ago that will continue to exist for billions more. They are just temporarily arranged into that object you call "mine".

I am always amazed by how much Epictetus has in common with the Buddha

Your Chanel changed how I experience life

😭😭😭😭😭 I needed to hear this. Thank you so much 😭😭😭😭😭😭

It’s simple to get what you want is to deserve what you want. Your worth it factors

0:12 Epictetus: “no” Credits!

Thank you so much for taking time to create this video! Much needed in today's time and age. We need to constantly remind ourselves of this message.Grateful 🙏🤍

Brilliantly narrated wisdom!!

That is a really great way of thinking! Thanks for the video!

As always thank you. Your videos have really helped me push aside that desire for more and more and working myself to the bone to get it. Im so content with a simpler life now, working less and spending time with my children and just being mindful of my life and actually enjoying it. Its so sad in our western society we are raised to be so driven to have the newest things, to feel if we are not pushing ourselves to work OT and make our companies more and more profit we are failures. Tell next time everyone :)

"When it comes to entitlement, the world not giving us what believe we earn isn't the problem. The problem is believing we deserve something we don't." Pause for a second and reload it.

This just helped me through a very dark thought process thank you so much

Thank-you so much for reminding us these well worth practicing ancient wisdom. Much needed to renew these days...

I feel like it's important to say that what you want and what a person needs are different. Don't use this philosophy to stiffle social benefits, like housing, healthcare, and things people need. Always fight for a better life, we can't all be Diogynese living in a pot

Another great one, and exactly on time too. Je bent een geschenk voor deze wereld. Bedankt voor al jouw werk!

Every lesson I think "this will be the hardest aspect of self to overcome" but instead they become easier.

Know Buddhism and these thoughts and stories feel a lot more powerful than they already do. Thanks for the video.

"All idealism is mendacity in the face of what is necessary" - Nietzsche

Simply awesome….I wonder how can someone have so much clarity? Every sentence in this video has wisdom hidden. Thank you for making such content. You are indeed adding a lot of peace in this world with your continuous tireless attempts . Please continue this noble work. I just want to know, what led you to this search ? And how do you continue doing it daily ? What rituals do you follow to be in such pursuit of understanding life daily and this purifying yourself so much ? God bless you ❤🙏👍👏👌👌