Written from around 170-180, Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations is an ancient piece of writing that is very applicable to the modern world. The first time I read Meditations, I was amazed at how nothing has changed. The emperor of Rome nearly two millennia ago still dealt with the same problems that many of us struggle with today.
Meditations was never meant to become published writing. Instead, it served as Marcus’ journal. He wrote about philosophy, his shortcomings, and the struggles that daily life brought him. Meditations is a very special book because it offers a peek into the life of one of (at the time) the most powerful men in the world and the most well-known Stoic philosopher.
Here are five of the most powerful lessons from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations:
Use the moment
We are all guilty of reminiscing on the past and dreaming of the future. We long for the days where everything felt perfect and we look forward to the days where all our problems will be solved. But the past is the past and the future may never come. All we truly have is the present, the moment that we are in right now. “Remember how long thou hast been putting off these things, and how often thou has received an opportunity from the gods, and yet dost use it … it will go and thou wilt go, and it will never return,” wrote Marcus.
The only thing that is certain in life is the present — so use it very wisely. We can always control how we want to use the moment. Chose to use it. The moment that you are in right now, you will never get back.
Always look for a way to make the best out of the current moment. It is all that you have.
Control your perceptions
A lot of the time, we let our perception of things dictate how we feel about them. Instead of taking the time to look at the situation from a different angle, we chose to let our first judgment rule our emotions. “Do the things external which fall upon thee distract thee?” asked Marcus.
If you are able to control your perceptions of external events, then you will be a much more productive, happy person. We all know somebody whose perception of external things gets them in trouble. When you start to feel yourself getting worked up about external events, remember that you have the opportunity to change your perception and thus change how you feel.
Your opinion is what matters
In this day and age, everybody thinks that their opinion is right on everything. This is never the case. There is only one opinion we have that truly matters. And that is our opinion about ourselves. If you really take the time to think about who you are and reflect on your actions, then you know who you are — and that is all that matters.
“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.”
Marcus Aurelius
Many people are not willing to go through this introspection and thought because it can be uncomfortable getting to know deep down why you do some of the things that you do. But if you have gone through this process, then you can know that your opinion of yourself is all that matters. Other people’s opinions mean nothing, as long as you know that you are acting with virtue and putting your best foot forward every day.
Nothing is forever
The happiness that you feel right now will be gone soon. The sadness you feel will be gone soon, too. The project that you worked really hard on will likely be forgotten in a couple of months. Nothing in life is permanent. “Time is like a river made up of the events which happen, and a violent stream; for as soon as a thing has been seen, it is carried away, and another comes in its place, and this will be carried away too,” Marcus wrote on page 27 of Meditations.
If we hold on to everything, then when it inevitably floats down the river we will be sad, maybe even mad at the world for taking it from us. But if we instead enter knowing that nothing is forever, not only will we be more grateful for the time we had with this person, feeling, or thing, but we also won’t be disappointed when it is gone. And when something negative happens in life, we must make the best out of the current situation with the realization that it won’t last forever.
Be humble
The world that we live in is insanely unpredictable. One day you could be the greatest, most successful person ever. And the next it could all be stripped away.
“Recive [wealth or prosperity] without arrogance; and be ready to let it go.”
Marcus Aurelius
If you are ever fortunate enough to reach the top of the mountain, don’t brag. Don’t let your ego get out of control. Don’t let success keep you from being a good person. No matter the situation, always stay humble. Always know that you are not perfect and that you can learn from others. There are far too many stories of people who let themselves believe that they were better than everybody. It never ends well.