In short 🔍
Marcus Aurelius was the most powerful Roman emperor in the first century AD and a noted Stoic philosopher. Being the richest man at the time, all possible pleasures and luxuries were at his disposal, yet he found himself surrounded by constant chaos and wars, which made him think deeply about inner peace, detachment, suffering, loss and death. The thoughts documented in his diary, were never to be published but eventually found their way into this world. We often think, wealth and power would make us peaceful and happy. We chase them with all our might, in the hope of one fine happy day. Here is one such man, who had everything we could ever dream of, sharing his thoughts and experiences first hand. A masterpiece in Stoicism. A must read.
Key Takeaways 🧠
- Nothing can hurt or affect you. Choose to be simple, rational, objective, detached and aware.
- Time & Universe and infinite and we are infinitesimally small. Our life is very short! It can end abruptly. Remember, no one has ever escaped death, but some have achieved great accomplishments while they were alive. So value every moment & live well.
- Be present. All you have is here and now. Focus on living with discipline and purpose. Remove all distractions. Concentrate and act towards achieving your goals.
- All the peace and happiness is inside your mind. Do not look for it outside. Value – Freedom, Satisfaction, Peace of mind, Happiness from inside. Do not value – External praise, validation, criticism, material possessions.
- If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. Abide by the facts, remove unnecessary imagination & judgement.
Actionable Advice 🎯
- Value every moment. Fill it with purpose. Action it with concentration. Focus internally. Do not rely on anything external. Be Good. Do Good. Expect Nothing.
- Always identify whether a situation is in your control or not. Act accordingly.
- If a situation is in your control, you CAN change it. It can be made good or bad depending on how you choose to respond. Focus, Act, Solve the problem. Detached action is the only solution.
- If situation is not in your control, it cannot be made good or bad, it simply IS. Accept the way it is. Do not blame anyone or be anxious or angry. All you can choose is your response to it.
- Examine things from first principles. Do not fear, walk. Stuck? Ask for help, walk.
Quotes 🏷️
- No longer talk at all about a how a good man ought to be, instead become one.
- You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
- The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts
- Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present
- I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others
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