Principle 28 · from the Enchiridion
Protect your mind
A harsh comment can occupy your attention long after it is said. Examine what is useful and practice returning to what matters to you.
Source passage (English)
The passage is shown in English. The explanation and example below are modern interpretations for this site.
If a person gave your body to any stranger he met on his way, you would certainly be angry. And do you feel no shame in handing over your own mind to be confused and mystified by anyone who happens to verbally attack you?
What this means
Epictetus asks why we protect the body carefully while letting another person's words direct our attention. His comparison invites us to notice what happens after a harsh comment: we may spend hours replaying it instead of considering whether it is useful.
Being affected by a remark is understandable. Returning attention to something else can take practice, and it does not have to happen immediately.
Start by separating useful criticism from an attack. Is there a specific mistake to correct? Does the comment need a boundary or no further engagement? Choose one next step, then practice returning to the task or person in front of you.
An everyday example
Someone you barely know makes a harsh comment, and you replay it all day. Your work suffers because half your attention is still arguing with them.
Ask whether the comment deserves this much space. Take whatever is useful, leave the rest, and return to what you were doing.
Reflection Question
Whose words have been living in your head lately? Do they really deserve that much room?