> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.stoicfellowship.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.stoicfellowship.com/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance.md).

# Agency, Desire, and Acceptance

Practices for locating moral agency and training desire toward what is truly good

## What These Exercises Train

These exercises distinguish moral agency from externals and train desire, aversion, and intention accordingly. They help you pursue preferred outcomes without treating them as moral goods, appreciate what is present without demanding permanence, and accept what occurs without surrendering appropriate action.

## When to Use Them

Use these practices when outcomes, possessions, comfort, approval, pleasure, or loss begin to govern judgment. Some prepare desire before a test; others help you respond while an external aim is uncertain or after circumstances have changed.

## Exercises in This Section

| Exercise                                                                                                     | What It Does                                                                                       |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Fundamental Rule](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/fundamental-rule.md)                         | Distinguish what is up to us from what is not.                                                     |
| [Reserve Clause (*Hupexairesis*)](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/reserve-clause.md)            | Pursue an external aim while accepting that circumstances may prevent the intended outcome.        |
| [Accepting Reality](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/accepting-reality.md)                       | Acknowledge the facts that have arrived and choose how to meet them well.                          |
| [The Banquet](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/the-banquet.md)                                   | Meet external goods as a courteous guest receives dishes passed around a banquet.                  |
| [Voluntary Discomfort](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/voluntary-discomfort.md)                 | Choose a mild and limited discomfort that trains a specific desire or aversion.                    |
| [Temptation Rehearsal](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/temptations.md)                          | Prepare for a recurring temptation and meet the promise of pleasure without surrendering judgment. |
| [Gratitude Without Attachment](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/gratitude-without-attachment.md) | Appreciate what is present without demanding that it remain.                                       |
| [Returned, Not Lost](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/returned-not-lost.md)                      | Treat life's externals as temporary accommodations entrusted to your care.                         |
| [Exercise of Reputation](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/reputation-as-an-indifferent.md)       | Act from character and duty without making other people's approval the measure of your worth.      |
| [The Price of Tranquility](/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance/price-of-tranquility.md)             | Meet small losses and irritations without paying for them with your self-command.                  |


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://wiki.stoicfellowship.com/wiki/exercises/agency-desire-and-acceptance.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.