Finding happiness can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But Stoicism — an ancient philosophy born in Greece around 300 B.C.E. — still offers valuable help for our daily lives now, especially when we’re easily stressed by small troubles. It teaches simple, powerful principles to face life’s ups and downs with calm and strength.

It starts with focusing on what you can actually control. Have you ever felt stuck, like you’re spinning your wheels and getting nowhere? This usually happens when we waste energy on unchangeable things: the weather, traffic, or others’ random thoughts. The Stoic Epictetus wrote life’s chief task is to “identify and separate matters” so we know clearly what’s out of our control and what choices we can truly make. This lets us stop blaming ourselves for the uncontrollable and put energy into shaping our own actions and adjusting our attitudes.

Another key idea is embracing challenges to grow stronger. Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body. Think about the gym: lifting weights feels hard at first, even painful, but over time, muscles grow stronger and more resilient. Challenges work the same for your mind — each difficulty tests your resilience, sharpens skills, and builds character. Every obstacle you overcome not only builds skill but also boosts your confidence.

Stoicism also guides how to handle others’ opinions. Why is it so hard to ignore what others think? The Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius observed this puzzle: he wondered why people love themselves most yet value others’ views more than their own. In today’s world, social media likes or peer approval make us mistakenly link self-worth to others’ judgments. But Stoicism says true value comes from within: your principles, daily actions, and self-awareness. Feedback helps, but it shouldn’t define your happiness or self-respect.

Stoicism’s old wisdom isn’t a relic of the past. It gives practical tools to stay resilient and peaceful in a chaotic, fast-paced world. With these principles, we don’t just cope with life — we thrive, living each day with clear purpose.

1. 1. Why did the author mention “searching for a needle in a haystack”?

A    To show how hard it is to find happiness.

B    To introduce the topic of ancient philosophy.

C    To criticize modern life’s complexities.

D    To emphasize the value of Stoicism.

2. 2. What did Epictetus think was the main task of life?

A    Focus on improving personal skills.

B    Tell what we can control from what we can’t.

C    Care about others’ daily needs.

D    Pursue daily goals actively.

3. 3. What can we infer from the third paragraph?

A    Exercising regularly keeps the body fit.

B    Hard work improves physical health.

C    Small successes raise self-esteem.

D    Challenges make the mind stronger.

4. 4. Where does true value come from according to Stoicism?

A    Social media likes.

B    Peer approval.

C    Internal elements.

D    Others’ judgments.