Epictetus presents a fundamental choice between two approaches to life: trying to force reality to match our preferences, or aligning our preferences with reality. The first approach leads to constant frustration because the world rarely conforms to our wishes. The second approach leads to peace because we're working with life rather than against it. This doesn't mean passive resignation or abandoning all goals, but rather accepting what has already happened while working skillfully with present circumstances. It's the difference between fighting the current and learning to navigate it effectively.