What I’ve learned from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.
Marcus Aurelius is probably one of the most fascinating people that have ever lived.
Of course, I’ve never met him, but I can tell you this: he was chosen among people to become an imperator, and the first thing that he did with the power was to share it with his brother.
So not only he wasn’t corrupted by it, but he also shared something that nobody would probably share.
We don’t know everything about this man, but he left us a book with his meditations and thoughts.
He wrote it not for us but for himself.
I’ve been reading this book and I want to share with you the lessons that I’ve learned from the first Stoic.
So don’t waste any more time and let’s begin.
1. Put people first
When Rome was in the middle of a pandemic crisis, Marcus Aurelius began to sell jewels and other things of value that belonged to him.
He did this to help his people, to give an example, and to say:” I’m with you, I’m not putting myself in the first place.”
So here’s what a leader should do: inspire the people, sacrifice himself to put the people first, and not follow their own needs.
This, in my opinion, is exactly what greatness is.
2. Another path is always open
Most people think that they’re stuck with their path.
Marcus Aurelius says that if you’re stopped with one capacity other capacities open to you.
You can always practice excellence, practice virtue, and change in some way or another, based on what’s happening.
We can’t control what happens, we can only control how we respond.
Let’s say that someone gets in your way, or blocks you: they can’t stop you from being patient, practicing forgiveness, or going in a different direction, or learning because of this, and so on.
3. Take it step by step
99% of us know what it takes to be successful, to reach our goals, and to be good.
The problem is doing it.
What I’m meaning is: how many times have you said something like:” I’m going to start the diet/cleaning the house/whatever tomorrow”?
We have to take the steps to do the things: we don’t lack information, we lack actions.
When you reach the end of the day it comes always to the action: you don’t think about what you know, you think about what you did.
Marcus Aurelius says:” Take it step by step.”
He also adds:” Just take the first step and nobody can stop you from that.”
4. Discard your anxiety
We all think that anxiety comes from other things.
The truth is that anxiety comes from us.
It’s not what it’s surrounding you that creates anxiety, but you are in the way you’re interpreting those things.
So anxiety is not something that you have to escape, but you have to discard it.
5. Well begun is half done
Marcus Aurelius had a better morning routine than mine: he always got up early.
He did it even when he didn’t want to and even if he didn’t like to.
He asked himself:” Were you made to stay here under the covers and keep warm or were you made to do the work of a human being?”
Then he did two things:
- He writes his thoughts in his journal because they make him better.
- He got to work on his most important task of the day and focused on it like it was the last thing he could do in his life.
6. Be strict with yourself
It’s called self-discipline because nobody except you is in charge of it.
All your learning and studying depends on you.
So you have to be a better master of yourself.
It’s your way of doing things, you have to leave everyone else, and their mistakes and their way of doing things to them.
7. Don’t resent people
This is interesting because Marcus Aurelius didn’t like people.
I mean: he opens Meditations by talking about how frustrating and obnoxious are other people.
Also when he says:” The obstacle is the way.” It’s him talking about other people: how they get in our way, on how they are obstacles.
But he says that in that obstacle there’s the opportunity to be good in the face of the people, to be just in the face of injustice, to be courageous when everybody else is cowardly, and be rewarded for it.
8. Ask yourself:” Is this the essential?”
How much of what we’re busy with actually matters?
Marcus Aurelius says:” Ask yourself if what you do is essential.”
Because most of what we do is what people tell or ask us to do it. That’s how we’ve always done it.
Let me ask you this: if you find out that you’ll be dying tomorrow, would you still do what you’re doing?
So when you ask yourself:” Is this the essential?” You get a double benefit: you get do to fewer things and you can do them better.
9. Remember these mantras
I want to share with you the best Mantras with their meaning that are in the book.
- Amor Fati: it didn’t happen to you, it happened for you. Embrace your destiny and make something from it.
- It’s about what you do for other people: contribute to your community.
- Memento mori: remember you’ll die, life is short.
These are the things that I’ve learned from this book. Let me know what you think about it and if you have read this book to.
I hope you liked reading this article.
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Hope you’re having a good day.
