"First consider the context and the consequences, and only then undertake the act."

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the world expected her to win gold. Then she experienced the "twisties." This is a mental block where a gymnast loses spatial awareness in the air. It's incredibly dangerous. If you get lost in the air, you can land wrong and break your neck.

The desire for glory was massive. The crowd and the country wanted her to push through. Biles stopped. She looked at the cost, and it was a potential catastrophic injury. The reward was another medal. So, she withdrew from the team final and the individual all-around competition.

Some people called her a quitter. They were wrong. She was a master of discipline. She calculated the balance of risk and reward. She decided the cost was too high, and chose reality over her ego.

Epictetus writes about this exact concept of wanting to win in a much more antiquated version of ancient Olympic games. He says everyone wants the winner's wreath, but no one looks at the training. To win, you have to follow strict rules. You have to eat unexciting food. You have to be driven hard by the coach.

Before you chase a desired outcome, you have to look at the whole picture. You can't just want the victory. You have to want the sacrifices that are required to attain it. If the cost destroys you, it isn't worth it.

Errors & Corrections

• Don't ignore the price tag. We want the six-pack. We don't want the bland chicken and the early alarms. If you don't accept the cost up front, you'll quit halfway through.
• Don't let the crowd spend your money. The crowd wanted Biles to risk her life for their entertainment. They weren't paying the cost. Don't ruin your life to satisfy people who don't have to live with the consequences.
• Don't mistake stubbornness for discipline. Pushing through a twisted ankle to finish a meaningless race isn't tough. It's stupid. True discipline is knowing when the return on investment is negative, and having the guts to walk away.

Applications to Modern Life

Work

You want the promotion to the Director role. You only see the title and the pay bump. You don't see the 60-hour weeks and the constant travel. Calculate the cost. If it costs you your marriage or your health, it's a bad trade. Turn it down and master your current role instead.

Leadership

Your agency wants to pitch a massive enterprise client. The revenue looks amazing. First, look at what's required. It'll require your team to work nights and weekends for a month just to prepare. If you win, it'll consume all your resources. Calculate if the prestige is worth burning out your best people. Sometimes you have to say no to big money.

Athleticism & Sport

You want to run a 100-mile ultramarathon. You see the belt buckle and the glory. You ignore the damaged knees and the months of exhausted weekends. If you want the medal, you have to love the brutal training. If you just want to brag on Instagram, pick a cheaper goal.

Politics

A politician promises a massive new program. They sell the benefits. They hide the taxes and the inflation that will pay for it. A Stoic citizen always asks for the receipt. Nothing is free. Evaluate the policy based on the actual cost, not the utopian promise.

Social Media

You want to be an influencer. You want the free trips and the followers. You don't look at the cost of losing your privacy. You trade your quiet life for an algorithm that demands constant content. Understand the transaction before you open the app.

Interpersonal Relationships

You want to win the argument with your partner. The reward is feeling right. The consequence is a resentful partner and a ruined weekend. Calculate the cost before you open your mouth. Losing the argument is usually cheaper than winning it.

Maxims

• Read the receipt first.
• Ego is a bad accountant.
• Don't buy what you can't afford.

In-depth Concepts

Agon (The Contest)

The Greeks loved the Agon. It was the athletic or philosophical struggle. Epictetus uses it as a metaphor for life. The contest isn't just the few minutes on the field. It's the months of preparation and the physical toll. You have to accept the whole Agon, not just the trophy.

Prohairesis (Moral Choice)

This is your ability to choose. It's the core of Stoicism. When you calculate the consequences properly, you protect your Prohairesis. You make a rational choice instead of letting an animal impulse make the choice for you.