Marcus Aurelius was a busy man. Yet he always made time for meditation. He considered the ordering of his mind an essential task. It was not only important for his own personal happiness—it’s no exaggeration to say the wellbeing of the entire empire depended on … Continue readingOne thing all unhappy minds have in common.
Marcus Aurelius had to deal with a lot of assholes. He was, after all, the emperor of Rome. While he must have been intentional about surrounding himself with people who were at the tops of their fields, and who were smart in ways that he … Continue readingThe Stoic way of leaving the assholes alone
Marcus Aurelius writes of himself—his the choices he’s made in life, and of the tendencies of his character—with humble and genuine appreciation. It’s the kind of thing I don’t see a lot of today. Self-deprecation is generally more acceptable than self-appreciation. Marcus was tough on … Continue readingHow to practice self-love like a Stoic
Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is divided into 12 books. Book One is entirely devoted to gratitude. Marcus lists people who have played important roles in his life, and he expresses gratitude for what they’ve taught him. He notes beautiful qualities, which he strives to emulate: “From … Continue readingPump up your gratitude muscle with Marcus Aurelius
Your experiences are filtered through your mind. There is nothing in this world that you can see, know, or do that is not colored by your perception and your perspective. In a very real sense, you can’t actually know anything as it truly is. You … Continue readingMeet Marcus Aurelius and get your head right.