Seneca says: It was nature’s intention that there should be no need of great equipment for a good life: every individual can make himself happy. External goods are of trivial importance and without much influence in either direction: prosperity does not elevate the sage and adversity does not depress him. For he has always made the effort to rely as much as possible on himself and to derive all delight from himself.
Thus, the gifts that we believe 'Fortune' to have bestowed us with - money, public office, influence, even peace, should, in fact, be pushed to a place in our lives and hearts where they or the lack of them don't bother us at all.The lack of these things, especially, may affect us a lot...may affect those we love, a lot...still, the wise thing to do would be as Kipling says -
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same....
Further..
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss....
And...
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
Thus, we go back to our quiet space and replenish our spirit for, it is only the disciplining of our mind which will lead to the inner stability of our spirit. And it is ONLY this inner stability that can help us to remain calm and happy no matter what the conditions around us, or how dire the circumstances in which we find ourselves. The best thing is that we have the power to choose our attitude in any condition or circumstance...we have the power to keep our monkey mind clear and clean...