“Chasing what can’t be done is madness. But the base person is unable to do anything else.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Knowing where and when to expend your energy and effort – physically, psychologically and emotionally – is something you can learn with training. Understanding what is in your control is essential. Accepting that something is not in your control is important if you are to avoid unnecessary mental anguish – yearning for or fearing something.

There is a third consideration: recognising what influence you might have on external things. Who knows what your intervention might bring about? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.