Discourses, To Those Who Fall Off (desist) from Their Purpose

Epictetus — The Slave

Think about the goals you set for yourself at the start. Which ones did you achieve? Which ones did you miss? Notice how good it feels to remember your successes. Notice how much it hurts to think about your failures. If you can, go back and tackle the things where you fell short. We can't back down when we're fighting the most important battle of our lives. We have to be willing to take some hits.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

Consider as to the things which you proposed to yourself at first, which you have secured, and which you have not; and how you are pleased when you recall to memory the one, and are pained about the other; and if it is possible, recover the things wherein you failed. For we must not shrink when we are engaged in the greatest combat, but we must even take blows.