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The Distinction
of Control
Choose your action. Leave room for uncertainty.
Use Epictetus’s distinction between what is up to us and what is not to separate a next action from an outcome you cannot command.
Map one situation ↓Free to use and print. No account needed.
What Epictetus distinguishes
The first chapter of the Enchiridion distinguishes what is up to us from what is not. It places judgments and choices on one side, and external things such as reputation and possessions on the other. The Greek phrase is also translated as “under our control.” [1]
This is part of a philosophical account of how to live. It is not a claim that you can instantly choose every feeling, control every action regardless of circumstance, or make external events unimportant.
Use three practical notes
Our exercise uses three headings: what I can choose next, what I can influence but not guarantee, and what remains outside my command. This is an editorial planning aid, not a three-part model quoted from Epictetus.
The middle heading matters in ordinary planning. You can make a request, prepare carefully, or offer help while recognizing that another person still makes their own decision.
Use specific verbs. “Make them agree” describes an outcome. “Send a clear proposal and ask for a response by Thursday” describes an action you can attempt.
A worked example: waiting for a reply
Mina has sent a proposal for a community event and is waiting for a venue coordinator. Checking the inbox every few minutes adds no new information.
Choose next
Check the proposal for missing details, send one concise follow-up after the agreed response date, and prepare a backup venue list.
Influence, not guarantee
Make the coordinator’s decision easier with dates, attendance numbers, and clear questions.
Outside command
The coordinator’s other commitments, available rooms, and final approval.
Review point
Check again at a chosen time. If the decision is still unavailable, use the backup plan.
Mina has not become indifferent to the event. She has separated useful work from trying to command a reply. The example is fictional, and its communication timing is illustrative.
Build your own map
- Describe the situation in two sentences, separating observations from guesses.
- List one action you can reasonably take next.
- Name whose cooperation or what conditions that action depends on.
- Record what you cannot guarantee.
- Choose a follow-up time or a fallback.
If you cannot identify a useful action, the next step may be gathering information, asking for help, or allowing time. You do not need to invent a task just to fill a box.
Avoid the common misreading
- Influence is not command. Effort can matter without ensuring the desired result.
- Acceptance is not permission for harm. You can recognize what happened while seeking support, setting boundaries, or working to change the situation.
- Feelings are not a failed test. This worksheet asks about a next response; it does not demand instant calm.
- Keep responsibilities visible. Something being uncertain does not remove a duty to prepare or communicate.
Use this as a reflection exercise, not a replacement for practical help when a situation exceeds what you can handle alone.
Put it to work
Action and uncertainty worksheet
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Action and uncertainty worksheet
Success Archives · successarchives.com/dichotomy-of-control/
1. The situation
What happened? What am I assuming rather than observing?
2. My next choice
What specific, reasonable action can I attempt?
3. Influence and dependencies
Whose cooperation or which conditions matter? What can I request?
4. Uncertainty and boundaries
What cannot I guarantee? What support or boundary might I need?
5. Follow-up or fallback
When will I review this, and what will I do if the outcome differs?
Does this mean I should stop caring about the outcome?
No. In this exercise, you can care deeply and still distinguish your contribution from the final result. The purpose is to identify a useful response, not to deny concern or avoid responsibility.
Sources & editorial notes
- Epictetus, Encheiridion chapter 1 — Dickinson College Commentaries — Greek text and scholarly notes on what is up to us.
The three-heading map and fictional example are original adaptations. They are not a verbatim ancient worksheet or a treatment protocol.
Sources reviewed September 16, 2026. All worksheets and worked examples are original Success Archives material. Source links are ordinary references; no affiliate links are enabled.