In this article, we will explore five of Marcus Aurelius’ principles that can improve your perception of yourself and others. Meditating on these handy principles will help you apply them to everyday situations.
Stoic philosophy is applicable to our modern lives for two reasons, which can be formulated into two questions:
- How can we lead a fulfilling, happy life?
- How can we become better human beings?
Marcus Aurelius’ book Meditations provides us with numerous principles that help us to answer these questions. It is worthwhile to keep these principles at hand, as they can guide us through every situation. These rules may seem simple in theory; however, they are not so easy to follow in practice. It would require a strong-willed person to apply them in everyday life. That being said, these principles are very handy and can improve your life if you follow them accordingly.
Principles from Meditations to Keep at Hand
1. Manage your time
We spend much of our time on trivial things that don’t improve our lives and only waste our precious time. Do you often catch yourself pointlessly scrolling through your Twitter, Instagram or Facebook feeds? That is potentially hours spent every day that we can never get back. Instead, focus yourself on the current moment. Do something that will improve your character and make you feel happier in the long term. Read a good book, go for a jog, do that assignment you’ve been putting off, hang out with friends who are positive influences, offer your help to someone else, and so on. There is no limit to what you can do, so long as it improves you or others in some way.
“A key point to bear in mind: The value of attentiveness varies in proportion to its object. You’re better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve.”
Marcus Aurelius
2. Perspective is important
There are two ways to perceive things: a subjective view or an objective view. It is important to understand this difference and to know when one is used in order to recognize if someone is supporting their argument with facts, or merely their own opinions and impressions. It is often the case that people mistake impressions for facts.
Our values and beliefs do not come from external sources; we are the only one who can tell our minds what to believe. Only we can control what to accept and what to decline, but we must utilise an objective view to make the correct decisions. Things are not ugly or beautiful, good or bad; it is our subjective perspective that makes things appear one way or the other. So, before you jump to a conclusion, double check whether your opinion is fueled by a subjective or objective standpoint.
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
Marcus Aurelius
3. Meditate on death
Stoics believe that death is inevitable and that we use this knowledge to embrace the time we have. Imagine that your life starts anew with every sunrise. Every day is a new opportunity to do something different, something new and good. Don’t allow it to be swallowed by boring routine or time wasting activities.
We live in the present, but we often think about the future and all the things we want to accomplish or change about ourselves. Is there anything you want to try? Then try it! All we need to do is put our thoughts into action. Remember, you are the only one who can change your life, attitude and worldview.
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what is left and live it properly”.
Marcus Aurelius
4. Meditate on loss, gain and change
What is loss? It is the disappearance of something you had. What is gain? It is the acquisition of something you didn’t have. You had a job, now you don’t have it. You didn’t have true friends, now you have some. You had a partner, then you lost them. What is common for all these cases? The answer is change.
Change is a fact of life. Loss and gain are merely words we use to describe the impressions we create around certain events. When you lose or gain something, instead think of it as a change. Change is an inevitable and natural part of life, and we need to learn to accept it.
“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is nature’s delight”.
Marcus Aurelius
5. Meditate on life in the morning
Marcus Aurelius teaches us to reflect on our lives and to be grateful for every moment we spend here on Earth. Life is full of wonderful people and things. We can learn to train our thoughts, first thing in the morning, to look at life and see the beauty of our world.
When you open your eyes and take your first breath, think of it as a gift and use it while it lasts. Think of yourself as an adventurer whose path consists of eternal change, possibilities and beauty. Utilise this mindset in your everyday life and you will perhaps be closer to answering the questions we proposed at the start.
“When you arise in the morning, think of what precious privilege is to be alive to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
Marcus Aurelius
