10 Stoic Teachings Of Marcus Aurelius We Desperately Need Today (Practical Stoicism)

Summary

In this video, we explore the timeless wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, the last of Rome's 'good emperors.' His 'Meditations' offer profound insights into Stoic philosophy, applicable even today. Key lessons include ignoring others' actions to focus on personal growth, shaping reality through our perceptions, doing less to reduce stress, embracing mortality for clarity on what truly matters, and recognizing our inner strength. Aurelius also emphasizes the importance of contributing to the common good, being grateful for our blessings, and finding happiness in simplicity. These teachings aim to reduce suffering and empower individuals to live meaningful lives.

Takeaways

• 😌 **Ignore Others' Actions**: Focus on your own tasks and calling, rather than being distracted by the actions of others.
• 🔄 **Your Reality is Your Perception**: Shape your reality with positive thoughts and interpretations, as there is no objective reality outside of our perceptions.
• 🏋️‍♂️ **Do Less, Focus More**: Reduce unnecessary actions to decrease stress and increase focus on what truly matters.
• 🚪 **Embrace Mortality**: Live as if each day is your last to prioritize what is truly important and meaningful.
• 💪 **Strength in Adversity**: Recognize your inner strength and resilience when faced with challenges and harm.
• 🌟 **Discover Your Purpose**: Identify and utilize your unique gifts to contribute positively to humanity.
• 🙅‍♂️ **Avoid Complaints**: Instead of complaining, change your attitude or circumstances to align with your life's task.
• 🏡 **Contentment with Your Environment**: Find happiness and satisfaction in your current living situation without longing for elsewhere.
• 🤝 **Serve the Common Good**: Act purposefully to help others and contribute to the community without seeking recognition.
• 🙏 **Gratitude for Blessings**: Cultivate gratitude for what you have and appreciate the value of your blessings.

Q & A

Who is Marcus Aurelius and why is he considered one of the last 'good emperors' of Rome?

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who reigned from 161 to 180 AD and is known for his wisdom and philosophical pursuits. He is considered one of the last 'good emperors' because he genuinely cared for the well-being of his citizens and was a proponent of Stoic philosophy, which focused on virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.

What is the significance of the 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius?

The 'Meditations' is a personal journal written by Marcus Aurelius, which outlines his Stoic philosophy and reflections on life, leadership, and ethics. It is significant because it provides insights into his thoughts and the principles he lived by, offering timeless wisdom that is still relevant today.

How does Marcus Aurelius suggest we should deal with the distractions caused by others' actions?

Marcus Aurelius advises ignoring what others are doing and focusing on one's own tasks and calling. He emphasizes not wasting energy on worrying about neighbors or social media, but rather devoting time and effort to personal needs and creative work.

What is the practical application of the idea that 'Life is opinion' as per Marcus Aurelius?

The practical application of the idea that 'Life is opinion' is to perceive everything positively and interpret others' actions in a way that does not harm us. It suggests that we can shape our reality by changing our thoughts and reactions to events, focusing on growth and learning from every experience.

Why does Marcus Aurelius recommend doing less and what are the benefits?

Marcus Aurelius recommends doing less to reduce unnecessary actions and focus on what is truly important. The benefits include reduced stress, increased focus, and the ability to devote more time and energy to meaningful activities, such as spending time with family or pursuing creative work.

How does the reminder of death serve as a tool for focusing on what is truly important in life?

The reminder of death serves as a tool for focusing on what is truly important by prompting us to drop unimportant activities and focus on our passions, meaningful work, and relationships with loved ones. It encourages us to live each day as if it were our last, prioritizing our time and energy on what truly matters.

What does Marcus Aurelius say about our ability to withstand challenges and how can we harness this strength?

Marcus Aurelius believes that we are stronger than we think, and we can change our interpretation of challenging situations to emerge stronger. He suggests imagining oneself as a giant with golden armor, impervious to the 'little arrows' of harm, and to be grateful for our strength in the face of adversity.

How can we discover and utilize our personal gifts to serve the common good according to Marcus Aurelius?

To discover and utilize our personal gifts, Marcus Aurelius advises reflecting on our innate abilities and how we can best share them with others. This could involve socializing, teaching, creating, or any other skill that can empower and benefit others. The key is to remain focused on this purpose and not get distracted.

What is the Stoic perspective on complaining and how can we change our attitude towards it?

The Stoic perspective, as expressed by Marcus Aurelius, is to avoid complaining and instead focus on what we can control. If something is bothersome, we should either remove it from our lives or change our attitude towards it. The goal is to make the best of our limited means and resources by focusing on our life's task and the common good.

How does Marcus Aurelius view the concept of happiness and contentment with our living situation?

Marcus Aurelius views happiness and contentment as being independent of our external circumstances. He suggests that we can find peace and happiness anywhere by focusing on the positives of our current situation and not desiring to be elsewhere. This mindset allows us to dedicate our energy to more meaningful pursuits.

What does Marcus Aurelius say about the importance of gratitude and how can we practice it?

Marcus Aurelius emphasizes the importance of gratitude by advising us to count our blessings and to appreciate what we have. Practicing gratitude involves acknowledging and being thankful for our blessings, and imagining how much we would crave them if we did not possess them, which can lead to a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Stoic Wisdom for Modern Living

This paragraph introduces Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor known for his stoic philosophy, and his personal manual 'Meditations.' Despite being written 2,000 years ago, the insights from his work remain relevant today. The paragraph outlines several key principles from Aurelius' philosophy that can be applied to modern life: ignoring the actions of others to focus on one's own tasks, shaping one's reality through personal opinions, doing less to reduce stress and focus on essentials, and embracing the inevitability of death to prioritize meaningful activities. These principles are aimed at helping individuals lead more meaningful and focused lives.

05:01

💪 Resilience and Contribution to Humanity

The second paragraph delves into the idea of personal strength and resilience, suggesting that one should view challenges as opportunities to grow stronger, much like a boxer facing tough opponents. It encourages individuals to see themselves as capable of overcoming adversity and to view any harm that comes their way as insignificant in the grand scheme of their strength. The paragraph also emphasizes the importance of discovering one's unique gifts and using them to contribute to the betterment of humanity. It advises against complaining and instead suggests focusing on how to make the best use of one's current situation. The concept of being content with one's living situation and focusing on the positives is also discussed, along with the idea of helping others without expectation of recognition or reward.

10:04

🌟 Embracing Gratitude and Serving the Common Good

The final paragraph in the script focuses on the themes of gratitude and service to the community. It quotes Marcus Aurelius to encourage individuals to be grateful for the blessings they have, rather than longing for what they lack. The paragraph suggests a practice of counting one's blessings and imagining life without them to appreciate their value. It also touches on the joy of helping others and contributing to the common good without seeking praise or recognition, aligning with the stoic ideals of selflessness and community service. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to subscribe for more videos, indicating that this is part of a series on applying ancient wisdom to contemporary life.

Keywords

💡Stoic Philosophy

Stoic Philosophy is an ancient Greek school of Hellenistic philosophy that teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. In the video, Marcus Aurelius' 'Meditations' exemplifies Stoic thought, emphasizing the importance of focusing on one's own actions and thoughts rather than external events. The video suggests applying Stoic principles to modern life, such as ignoring the actions of others and focusing on personal growth and virtue.

💡Meditations

The 'Meditations' is a personal diary written by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, reflecting on Stoic principles and his own self-improvement. It is considered one of the greatest works of philosophy and is referenced in the video as a source of timeless wisdom. The video script encourages viewers to read the 'Meditations' to gain insights on how to live a meaningful life.

💡Ignore what others are doing

This phrase from the video script is a call to focus on one's own path and not be distracted by the actions or opinions of others. It's a reflection of the Stoic principle of controlling one's own reactions and not being swayed by external influences. The video suggests that by ignoring what others are doing, one can devote more time and energy to personal tasks and callings.

💡Reality is Made by your opinions

This concept from the video script suggests that our perception of reality is subjective and shaped by our thoughts and opinions. It aligns with the Stoic idea that we can control our reactions to events, rather than the events themselves. The video encourages viewers to interpret experiences positively, thereby shaping their reality in a more favorable light.

💡Do less

The video script advocates for simplicity and focusing on essential actions, which is a Stoic principle of reducing unnecessary activities to achieve contentment. By doing less, one can reduce stress and focus on what truly matters, such as family, creative work, or helping others. The video suggests cutting out superfluous actions and words to gain clarity and focus.

💡Death is knocking at your door

This phrase is used in the video to remind viewers of the impermanence of life and the importance of living meaningfully. It encourages people to prioritize their time and actions, focusing on what is truly important, as one might do when faced with their own mortality. The video script uses this concept to inspire a sense of urgency and focus in living a purposeful life.

💡You’re stronger than you think

This concept from the video script is about resilience and the ability to withstand adversity. It reflects the Stoic belief in personal strength and the power of one's mindset. The video uses this idea to encourage viewers to face challenges without bitterness, seeing them as opportunities to grow stronger and more resilient.

💡Rising for the work of humankind

This phrase from the video script is about fulfilling one's purpose and contributing to the greater good. It ties into the Stoic idea of living a life of virtue and serving others. The video encourages viewers to discover their unique gifts and use them to empower and help others, aligning with the Stoic principle of living a life of purpose.

💡Never complain

The video script advises against complaining and instead suggests taking action to change one's situation or adjusting one's attitude. This aligns with the Stoic principle of focusing on what is within one's control. The video encourages viewers to make the best of their circumstances and to use their energy for positive actions rather than complaints.

💡You Can Live Happy Anywhere

This concept from the video script emphasizes the importance of contentment and happiness being internal states, not dependent on external circumstances. It suggests that one can find happiness and peace regardless of where they live, challenging the idea that a change of location is necessary for happiness. The video encourages viewers to appreciate their current environment and focus on what they can control.

💡Help the common good

The video script promotes the idea of acting for the benefit of society and others, which is a core Stoic principle. It encourages altruism and the use of one's abilities and resources to help those less fortunate. The video suggests that doing good without expecting recognition or praise is a noble and fulfilling way to live.

💡Be grateful of your blessings

This concept from the video script is about practicing gratitude and appreciating what one has. It is a reminder to focus on the positive aspects of life and to be thankful for one's blessings. The video encourages viewers to count their blessings and to cultivate a mindset of gratitude, which can lead to increased happiness and contentment.

Highlights

Marcus Aurelius was a 'good emperor' who cared for his citizens' well-being.

He authored 'Meditations,' a personal manual that offers timeless wisdom.

Ignore others' actions to focus on your own tasks and calling.

Social media can distract; consider a break to enhance focus and creativity.

Shape your reality through your opinions and perceptions.

Interpret negative events positively to foster personal growth.

Do less to reduce stress and focus on what's truly important.

Embrace death's inevitability to prioritize meaningful activities.

Believe in your inner strength to overcome life's challenges.

Identify and utilize your unique gifts for the betterment of humanity.

Avoid complaining and focus on solutions within your control.

Find happiness by appreciating your current living situation.

Strive to contribute positively to the common good without seeking recognition.

Practice gratitude for the blessings you possess.

Transcripts

Marcus Aurelius was one of the last “good emperors” of Rome — who genuinely cared

for the well-being of his citizens.

He lived in a time where death was prevalent— and chaos was everywhere.

He wrote a manual for himself which we now know as the “Meditations.”

Even though he wrote these words around 2,000 years ago — his insights still carry strong

weight today.

Here are some insights of his stoic philosophy we can apply to your own life and make it

meaningful.

1.

Ignore what others are doing Marcus Aurelius says "Do not waste what remains

of your life in speculating about your neighbors.

Anything that distracts you from fidelity to the Ruler within you— means a loss of

opportunity for some other task.”

It means that our time is very limited so Why waste our precious energy worrying about

our neighbors?

Why do we care what they are doing, what they are up to, and what they think of us?

We need to ignore everyone and focus on our task at hand.

What is our task?

Whatever is our calling on earth — whether that means creating art, empowering others,

or being a loving parent.

Today with social media, we are addicted to what others are doing.

We waste our mental energy being envious of others and comparing ourselves to them and

hence feel frustrated that we aren’t as successful as our peers.

In order to stay focused and ignore what others are doing, you need to take a break from doing

anytthing that concerns others.

Uninstall all social media apps from your phone, and don’t check your Facebook, Instagram,

or any other social media network for an entire week.

This does not mean to ignore your friends and family but this experiment for a week

will help you to devote all your time, energy, and effort to your own needs.

It will make you less envious, jealous and you will stay focused in your own creative

work.

2.

Your Reality is Made by your opinions.

Marcus Aurelius tells us: “Life is but what you deem it.”

“Life is opinion.”

It means that There is no “objective” reality out there— we shape our own reality.

We shape our own perception of the world with our thoughts.

No external “reality” exists outside of our perceptions.

The practical way you can apply this mode of thinking in your life is this: see everything

in a positive light.

For example, let’s say that someone talks shit about you to your face.

Rather than feeling frustrated, you can tell yourself: “I’m glad that someone is talking

shit about me, it means that I am not boring — and doing something interesting.”

Furthermore, when people insult us, try to harm us, or criticize us — it isn’t the

insult which hurts us.

It is our interpretation of what they are saying which hurts us.

If we interpret others’ actions as irrelevant, how can we feel hurt?

Practice it for a week.

Interpret every action that happens to you as positive.

For example, if someone insults you, think to yourself: “How can this insult make me

a stronger person?”

See every opportunity as a growth opportunity.

3.

Do less Marcus Aurelius reminds us the importance

of doing less in life— and cutting out the superfluous actions from his life:

"If thou wouldst know contentment, let thy deeds be few,’ said the sage.

Better still limit them strictly to such as are essential, and to such as in a social

being reason demands, and as it demands.”

It means Many of our actions and words are unnecessary.

By not doing superfluous actions, we will be less stressed.

We need to cut out the unnecessary things in our lives.

The less superfluous actions, words, thoughts, and emotions — the more focus we will have

for what is really important to us in life.

That might be time with your family, time to do your creative work, or the chance to

help others.

For a week, always ask yourself: “Is this superfluous?”

whenever making decisions.

You can apply this in many different ways.

For example if you have social obligations — ask yourself, “Is this social meeting

superfluous?”

Learn how to say “no” — and say it as often as you can.

4.

Death is knocking at your door “Take it that you have died today, and your

life’s story is ended; and henceforward regard what further time may be given you

as an uncovenanted surplus.”

Think about all the people who learn they have cancer or some other disease.

Once they discover this, they drop all the shit they don’t like doing in life — and

only focus on what is important to them.

When we know that death is close, we don’t waste our time.

We don’t waste our precious leisure time watching TV or other forms of passive entertainment.

We rush into doing what we are passionate about, and work that is meaningful to us.

We spend more time with our loved ones, and omit superfluous people and actions from our

lives.

Reminding ourselves of death gives us focus.

Today, imagine like it were your last day on earth.

What would you do, and what would you not do for your day?

What would you tell your loved ones?

Who would you spend time with, and who would you not spend time with?

What creative act would you do?

What would you not do in your day, if you knew today was the last?

Constantly meditate on this — live everyday as if it were your last.

Because one day, it will be.

5.

You’re stronger than you think Whenever someone tries to harm you, think

of these words from Marcus Aurelius: “How lucky I am, that it has left me with

no bitterness; unshaken by the present, and undismayed by the future.

The thing could have happened to anyone, but not everyone would have emerged unembittered.”

It means You’re tougher than you think.

You can’t prevent others from throwing shit at you.

But you can change your interpretation of the situation.

If you want to be a world-class boxer, you will have to fight difficult opponents.

You will get beaten up, break a few bones, bleed, and as a result— you will get stronger.

Lets be honest - life is hard and Sometimes to live is an act of courage.

Today, Imagine yourself like the strongest person in the world.

You’re stronger than others.

Whenever others try to harm you, imagine little arrows trying to pierce your golden armor.

You’re a giant, and others are ants trying to harm you.

Whenever harm comes your way, remind yourself: “Thank God I’m so strong, this could have

broken others, but it hasn’t broken myself.”

6.

You are rising for the work of humankind Marcus Aurelius tells us "A man’s true delight

is to do the things he was made for".

What were you designed for?

It depends.

What is your gift?

It might be your ability to socialize, to make others feel loved, your skill for reading

or writing, your skill for research, your skill for synthesizing information and data,

your skill for making visual images, your skill for empowering others, your skill for

teaching, or your skill for making the world a more beautiful place.

Discover your gift, and figure out how you can best share it with others.

If you don’t know what your gift is— ask your friends, family, or your mom.

Think about your gifts as a child, and how you can best use your personal gift to help

those around you.

How can you best empower humankind with your gift?

Always meditate on this, and don’t get distracted.

7.

Never complain Marcus Aurelius says "Is your cucumber bitter?

Throw it away.

Are there briars in your path?

Turn aside.

That is enough" It means why must we complain?

If there is someone who annoys you — just ignore them.

Unfollow them from social media, or just cut your social ties with them.

Do you hate your job?

Either quit your job, or figure out a way to make it less painful or miserable.

We often cannot change our external situations in the world — but we can always change

our attitude towards it.

Most of us don’t have much time, energy, or money.

Yet given our limited means, how can we make the best of what we have?

Instead of complaining about life, think of how you can best use your limited means to

do your life’s task.

Let’s say your dream is to start your own business.

But you have no experience, money, or time.

How can you turn that into a benefit?

Perhaps you don’t have any dogma holding you back when it comes to business.

Perhaps by not having a lot of money, you can be more creative to be frugal with your

business— and create an economical business.

Creativity breeds on constraints— so harness your constraints in a positive way.

8.

You Can Live Happy Anywhere Marcus Aurelius says “Let it be clear to

you that the pace of green fields can always be yours, in this, that or any other spot;

and that nothing is any different here from what it would be either up in the hills, or

down by the sea, or wherever else you will.”

What causes a lot of misery for many of us is our homes, where we live, and the wish

to be somewhere else.

We might live in the suburbs, and wished we lived in the city.

We might live in the city, and prefer living in the countryside.

We live in the countryside, we might wish living at the beach.

We live at the beach, we wish we lived on an island.

If we lived on an island, perhaps we might prefer the convenience of living in a suburb.

If you were happy with where you lived and the home you lived in — and didn’t desire

to live elsewhere, or in a bigger or better home, how much more energy, money, and attention

could you have for better things in life?

Write a list of the positives of your home, your neighborhood, or city.

Never think of the negatives.

And likewise— think of all the other places you would prefer to live.

Then write the negatives of living in those other places (the cost of living, traffic,

pollution, distance from family and friends, etc).

And then seek to not complain about your home or where you live.

And dedicate all of your creative energy to doing something personally-meaningful.

9.

Help the common good Marcus Aurelius says “Avoid all actions

that are haphazard or purposeless; and secondly, let every action aim solely at the common

good.”

It means To be a honorable and purposeful human being is to help others.

To help others not as fortunate as us.

To share our gift, our knowledge, and our resources.

Keep doing good towards others, even though they may hate us.

And once you help others, forget it.

Better yet— don’t even be conscious that you’re helping others.

Marcus Aurelius tells us to have “no consciousness of all of what he has done, like the vine

which produces a cluster of grapes looks for no more thanks than a horse that has run his

race.”

For a week, do good to others, without expecting any praise.

The pleasure of having helped others is good enough.

10.

Be grateful of your blessings Marcus Aurelius says “Do not indulge in

dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess,

and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.”

No matter how wealthy or successful we are, we can never get everything that we want.

Happiness isn’t having everything in the world.

Rather, happiness is being grateful for all the blessings we already have.

Count your blessings, and then vividly imagine if you didn’t have those blessings.

How much would you crave those blessings if you didn’t have them?

I hope that you can also integrate some of these lessons into your life, to give you

less suffering, stress, anxiety, and more strength to do your life’s task — to serve

the common good.

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