THE GOAL

“There are three things in which a man ought to exercise himself who would be wise and good …. The second [the Discipline of Action] concerns the movements toward an object and the movements from an object, and generally in doing what a man ought to do, that he may act according to order, to reason, and not carelessly …. The second topic concerns the duties of a man; for I ought not to be free from affects like a statue, but I ought to maintain the relations natural and acquired, as a pious man, as a son, as a father, as a citizen.”

Epictetus, Discourses III, 2.1–4

Before you begin your journey in the Discipline of Action, take a moment to briefly rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 on the following items. One means it doesn’t describe you at all, and 10 means it describes you perfectly. After you complete the exercises in Part II, you will answer these questions again to see if you’ve made progress.

I tend to act impulsively, on the basis of my initial urges without questioning them.

I shy away from my responsibilities in life.

I can be selfish, and don’t care much about other people’s well-being.