👑 10 Lessons from Marcus Aurelius That Apply to Modern Life
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher. His private journal, Meditations, contains life wisdom that's eerily relevant 2,000 years later.
In this article
1. Your Thoughts Create Your Reality
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." You can't control events, but you can control the story you tell yourself about them. Two people can face the same setback — one sees failure, the other sees a lesson.
2. Obstacles Are the Way
"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." The problem IS the practice. The rejection IS the training. The failure IS the teacher. Stop trying to avoid obstacles and start using them.
3. You Always Have a Choice
"You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." Even in the worst circumstances, you choose your response. Viktor Frankl proved this in a concentration camp. Your Monday meeting is not harder than that.
4. Memento Mori
"You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think." Not morbid — motivating. If this were your last month, would you still be worried about that email? Would you still not have told that person you appreciate them?
5. Don't Waste Time on Others' Opinions
"It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own." Most of the time, people aren't even thinking about you. They're worried about what YOU think of THEM.
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