Epictetus' The Handbook

So I had to write a paper on my favorite chapter from Epictetus’ The Handbook. But along the way I stumbled onto statements that I felt was contradictory to the rest of his ideas.

In Chapter 2 he says “So if you seek to avoid only those things contrary to nature amongst the things that are in your power, you will accordingly fall into nothing to which you are averse”. The part that seems contradictory is that I thought that when someone wished something ‘contrary to nature’ they were hoping for something that was outside of their control. Correct me if I’m wrong but wouldn’t it make more sense if he simply said “So if you seek to avoid only those things that are in your power, you will accordingly fall into nothing to which you are averse”? What exactly is added by the added ‘contrary to nature amongst’.

I finished my paper just fine and obviously I didn’t choose chapter 2 as my favorite. It just bugs me that I don’t know what he means. shrugs

I think he saying if you avoid tackling the real tough challenges in your life, things will go easier for you. Sounds to me likes he’s advocating letting bygones be bygones and focusing on positives and not negatives.

I’m not too familiar with much of the classical stuff, so I don’t even know if that fits.

But what does ‘contrary to nature’ add to the equation? ](*,)

…because if it wasn’t contrary to nature, there wouldn’t be much adversity met in changing it?