When most people think of a writer, most people don’t think of a Roman Emperor. On the other hand, this Emperor would probably be a New York Times best-selling author and would have probably won a Nobel prize in literature.
This is if he knew his books were going to be published and if he were alive when those prizes existed. We are talking about Marcus Aurelius of course.
His book, Meditations, is one of the most influential books of all time and it wasn’t even supposed to be published.
Originally, his book was named “Ta eis heauton” or “To himself” and it was a personal journal reminding himself of stoic philosophies and giving himself advice regarding certain situations. It was written 2000 years ago from 161–180 A.D. yet many of these lessons still apply to us today and more debatable more than ever.
Just for some context about Marcus Aurelius and who he is, Marcus was born April 26, 121 CE by the name of Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. Now that’s a mouthful. But luckily he changed his name later on to Marcus Annius Verus and normally goes by Marcus Aurelius.
Now, his life as a Roman Emperor wasn’t all fun and games. Even though he was born into a wealthy family and was chosen to be heir to the throne, he went through many hardships during his life. First, his parents passed away when he was very young. It was tough on him, but he found himself interested in philosophy and particularly Stoicism.
This led Marcus to write his personal journal now called the meditations during his time as Emperor from 161–180 A.D. And from that journal, here are 5 important lessons that could change your life for the better.
1. Fame and Money is not Worth Pursuing
Marcus wrote in his journal many times again that fame and money is not worth pursuing.
Constantly recall those who have complained greatly about anything, those who have been most conspicuous by the greatest fame or misfortunes or enmities or fortunes of any kind: then think, where are they all now? Smoke and ash and a tale, or not even a tale.
He remarks that fame is momentary and it will soon be forgotten. He points out that even those whose give praise will eventually die and that even stories told about what you have done will also die.
When you’ve done well and another has benefited by it, why like a fool do you look for a third thing on top — credit for the good deed or a favor in return?
Additionally, he states that as humans we should help each other and the joy from helping someone should be enough of a reward. We shouldn’t see fame or praise from that on top of the joy that we get from helping others.
I feel as though this is ever so prominent in today’s day and age. With so many problems in today’s society with inequality, racism, and everything else, we should help others as much as possible.
Additionally, we shouldn’t seek praise or something in return for helping others, it should out of generosity and favour is something that should be received not requested.
So, your task is to do something kind for someone today and not expect to receive anything in return. It can be something small like holding the door for someone, washing the dishes for your parents, or something big like donating to the homeless or tipping your waiter more than they expected.
Just by doing something kind for someone every day, you will see your life improve for the better. Just give it a try!
2. Don’t let Success or Pitfalls Affect Character
Many of the fathers of Stoicism were men of great success but also of great failures.
Epictetus was born a slave, then became of the most successful philosophers in history.
Seneca was the Emperor’s right-hand man and a powerful politician and then gets exiled and becomes of the most wanted individuals in Rome.
Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of Rome, but he became ill with a deadly sickness.
However, these Stoics did not let their success nor their pitfalls define who they were as a person. As Marcus Aurelius would say,
To accept without arrogance, to let it go with indifference.
In this, he hopes that when people are extremely successful and at the top of their game, they just accept that without being arrogant about it. you don’t let ego affect who you are but also, you aren’t guilty for being successful.
Then, at the other end of the spectrum, he thinks that you should have enough confidence to know that you can bounce back from failures.
This is because you are your character. And being at the top of your league or at the bottom says nothing about you or your character.
Marcus Aurelius had an amazing metaphor to show this. He believed that every man, Emperor and soldier alike are like rocks. It gains nothing by going up and loses nothing by going down.
Looking at this in a real-life situation, everyone has their ups and downs. Say, one day you lose your job. It may not have been a good day, and obviously nobody wants that to happen, but has that changed your character? Has that changed who you are as a human being?
Obviously not. Depending on how you act in response to this shows character. If you choose to hurt someone in response, then that is when it affects your character.
All in all, your successes and pitfalls don’t change who you are as a person. It is important to realize and internalize what has happened and why but you shouldn’t let that affect your ego or self-confidence.
Good or bad, just keep on going and don’t give up.
3. See Things from a New perspective
Marcus Aurelius is big on seeing things from a new perspective and decluttering. This is the reason that he started this journal. He wanted to declutter his mind so he wrote down his thoughts as reminders for how he should live his life.
One activity that Marcus Aurelius loved doing was an activity called ‘view from above’. This activity involves us viewing ourselves from the third person and making our decisions based on what we see.
The first step is zooming out while keeping ourselves at the centre. The first zoom out might help you envision your roof or whatever is above you. Zoom out again, and you might see your neighbourhood. Again and it may be your entire country. Then, all of a sudden it is the entire planet earth.
Then, from this perspective make your decision. You will see from here, how insignificant your problems are in comparison to the world.
You will see how insignificant your failed test is and overcoming your hurdles and obstacles will become easier.
Additionally, this can help you to be more productive as well. How I like to use this, is while I am doing an activity, I use the view from above technique.
I look at myself and ask, “Is this really something I should be doing right now?” This is kind of my own technique in holding myself accountable and making sure that I am on task.
My action item for you is to use this technique next time you have a problem. And instead of immediately acting out of rashness or making an immediate decision, look from above and make your decision based on what you see from the stars looking down on the earth.
4. Willing Acceptance
The third lesson we can learn from Marcus Aurelius is willing acceptance.
Objective judgement, now, at this very moment. Unselfish action, now, at this very moment. Willing acceptance, now, at this very moment — of all external events. That’s all you need.
That quote essentially stands for what stoicism is meant to be.
Objective judgement is to perceive events as they really are. See actions for actions and do not let your judgement or feelings see them as something different. Understand that many things are beyond your control and that you are a small speck in a tiny universe. So, anything bad that happens means almost nothing.
Unselfish action speaks to the notion of helping others and being a kind person. Don’t do things just to benefit yourself. Do things for others and expect nothing in return. Be a good teammate, classmate, citizen, etc. Don’t do anything for personal gain do it out of kindness.
Following that, willing acceptance is being in tune with one’s self and fully with nature.
It states that instead of complaining about how things are, instead of feeling like the world is against you and that you are the victim of every situation. Embrace these events and accept them. You can’t go back to the past to change them, so you might as well accept them and make the most out of your situation and move forward. Let your response build your character and your mental toughness to terrible situations.
Just because something goes wrong, it doesn’t mean you can’t fix it. Life will always keep moving on, and whether you also choose to move on is up to you.
So, next time you are in a bad situation and don’t think you can handle what’s next, just accept it. Things go wrong, and often those things are out of your control. Instead of yelling at the guy who cut you in line at the coffee store or getting mad at someone who ran into you, just accept it and move forward in life.
5. Memento Mori
Memento Mori is Marcus Aurelius’s way of saying seize the day. Except his version is a lot darker.
The direct translation of this is “remember you must die”. Now, this does seem very dark, but it has a deeper message behind it. Aurelius uses this as a reminder to make the most of his days.
He knows that eventually, everyone will die, so he decides to live each day to the fullest. He doesn’t wait to do anything, but he decides to do it now. This is a message that is all throughout Stoic philosophy and in meditations, he said this,
Think of all the years passed by in which you said to yourself “I’ll do it tomorrow,” and how the gods have again and again granted you periods of grace of which you have not availed yourself. It is time to realize that you are a member of the Universe, that you are born of Nature itself, and to know that a limit has been set to your time. Use every moment wisely, to perceive your inner refulgence, or ’twill be gone and nevermore within your reach.
Marcus Aurelius views life as a gift which should not be taken for granted.
In real life, that means don’t wait until the perfect moment to tell that someone how you feel about them, do it now. Don’t put off this project that you have to do, do it now. And don’t keep going to this job you hate because you think it’s going to get better. Be the change you want to see and make something happen today.
Marcus Aurelius knows that,
The act of dying is one of the acts of life.
So Memento Mori is his way of reminding himself to make the most of every day that he is alive, as one day he won’t be.
Key Takeaways
- Fame and money are not worth pursuing. Act out of kindness because you are human, don’t do it for a reward or praise.
- Don’t let success or pitfalls affect character. Just because you have your ups and your downs in life, it is about how you act that will define your character.
- See things from a new perspective. Use the view from above technique and try to view your actions from a third-person point of view and think of the best way to resolve your problems from that standpoint.
- Willing acceptance. Accept the past for the way it is. Don’t try to change the past but instead choose to change the future.
- Memento Mori. Everyone will die one day, and we never know when that day will come. So make the most of today.
