Stoic lessons for better living

Marcus Aurelius: A roman emperor. A stoic. A man who wrote a journal which became a book. Meditations is almost 2,000 years old and has been foundational reading for stoics and philosophers. It was his personal journal, and he reminded himself what was important, what to remember, and how to live. His written reminders generally fall into certain buckets: mortality, purpose, action, focus, helping others, and more. Here are 7 action-based lessons from Marcus Aurelius:

1 – FOCUS ON WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU.

He states, “do what is in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness… stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you… stop letting yourself be pulled in all directions.” How often do you catch yourself thinking of the future or the past? Do you worry about what may come? Stop it. You have a task at hand. Focus on it. Doing anything else is to come at the expense of your current work. Also, focus on you, your work, and your purpose, and not on other people. He writes, “Nothing is more pathetic than people who run around… conducting investigations into the souls of the people around them…” You have a purpose and a mission. Focus on it.

2 – REMEMBER, YOU WILL DIE.

Death meets all of us at some point. Aurelius often reminds himself of his mortality, “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” If you were to leave life right now, would you be proud of the life you lived? The actions you took? The impact on those around you? Remember, you will die. Live accordingly.

3 – YOU ARE THE MASTER OF YOUR THOUGHTS.

Your thoughts lead to actions, so better thinking leads to better actions. First, stop worrying; instead, think about what you need to be doing. Aurelius states, “Don’t waste the rest of your time here worrying about other people… It will prevent you from doing anything useful.” He also reminds us to think clearly and avoid randomness. “… get used to winnowing your thoughts, so that if someone says, ‘what are you thinking about?’ you can respond at once, and truthfully, that you are thinking about this or that. It would be obvious from your answer that your thoughts were straightforward and considerate ones- the thoughts of an unselfish person, one unconcerned with pleasure and with sensual indulgence generally, with squabbling, with slander and envy, or anything else you’d be ashamed to be caught thinking.”

4 – YOU ARE THE MASTER OF YOUR EMOTIONS.

Marcus Aurelius regularly comments on emotions and distractions that do not serve us. He states that the human soul degrades itself when, “… it is overpowered by pleasure or pain.” He also states, “The angry man seems to turn his back on reason out of a kind of pain and inner convulsion. But the man motivated by desire, who is mastered by pleasure, seems somehow more self-indulgent, less manly in his sins.” It is not that pain and pleasure are bad and should be avoided. Instead, reacting out of pain and overindulging in pleasure are sure ways to kick you off your path of purpose and intent. In another entry, he writes, “To be like a rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.” Be like the rock and control your emotions.

5 – YOU ARE THE MASTER OF YOUR ACTIONS.

How you behave is your decision. When others wrong you, you may be tempted to react and seek retribution. To Aurelius, any wrongdoing that happens to you is simply the universe (logos) pushing you in the direction you need to go. As such, accept what happens to you as what is and choose to act in a way best aligned with your character and intent. Do not waste time with actions that do not serve your purpose. Instead, have faith and trust that all is for the best.

6 – THINGS ULTIMATELY HAPPEN FOR THE BEST, IF YOU ACCEPT YOUR POWER TO CHANGE.

Aurelius writes about Logos often. He reminds us that things happen to us so we can grow. “It was for the best. So Nature had no choice but to do it… Something happens to you? Good. It was meant for you by nature, woven into the pattern from the beginning… Nothing happens to anyone that he can’t endure.” This perspective allows you to move forward through adversity, trusting that you can adapt and overcome. As a leader (and as a human) there is no shortage of adversity, so trust you can manage it, and step up to overcome it.

7 – MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

You should focus on you. What is your mission, your purpose, your impact? What are you doing right now that propels you forward? What are you doing right now that improves your life? None of the above answers lay in the minds of others. Do not worry about what others think. He states, “Nothing that goes on in anyone else’s mind can harm you. Nor can the shifts and changes in the world around you.” If you catch yourself thinking about what others may the thinking or saying about you, remember this teaching. What others think about should not concern you. Your actions and behavior should be your focus.

Also, the actions of others may distract you from your course. “The others obey their own lead, follow their own impulses. Don’t be distracted. Keep walking. Follow your own nature, and follow Nature – Along the road they share.” If you are minding your business and have clarity of purpose, you will not be distracted by the actions of others.

Meditations is a book you need on your shelf. There are more lessons than just “how to act” which serve as foundational reading not only for stoics, but anyone looking to improve their life.

Clark