The Philosopher Epictetus (55 - 135 CE), said that nothing can truly be taken from us. He maintained that inner peace begins when we stop saying "I have lost it" and instead say "it has been returned to where it came from." He was of course speaking about things belonging in this world. The world owes us nothing, so when we can, we should take great care of those things the world allows us to have temporarily. Whether it is the temporary love and respect of others, or temporary health, comfort, enjoyment, growth, or ultimately temporary Happiness, we must know that it can be snatched from our grasp in a heartbeat.

This acknowledgment / realization provides inner peace by freeing us from the constraints invariably linked with worldly attachments, and additionally reminds us that True Happiness is not of this world and cannot be attained by seeking 'things' of this world. In fact, as we have said before, Happiness should not be sought as an end in itself, but rather should be found as a result of a Life well-lived.

It is difficult to separate this world and our daily routines from (if you will) other-worldly considerations of inner peace and exoteric goodness. The exoteric nature of other-worldly consideration infers a legacy or the impact one leaves behind, while the inner considerations include how one judges their personal behaviors and how satisfied one is with their exoteric impact. These other-worldly considerations should have more influence on our thoughts, feelings, and actions than the relatively unimportant worldly considerations that too often do have more influence.

It is a matter of what is important, and as Epictetus reminds us - 'We Have Nothing To Lose.'