My 4 Favorite Life Lessons From Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius is by far the most well-known and popular Stoic, and for good reason. An emperor of Rome, one of his first decisions was to share his power. He ruled during a war, a plague, and gave us the gift of Meditations, his private journal containing his thoughts and ideas about life.

Even though he ruled nearly two thousand years ago, his idea’s are as relevant as ever.

Today, I’ll walk you through my four favorite life lessons from Marcus Aurelius.

Lesson 1: The power of gratitude and living in the present moment

One of the greatest lessons from Marcus Aurelius is this idea of living in the present moment, of being grateful for just existing. His quote,

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive-to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”

It captures the essence of gratitude, and also embracing the present moment. As the Stoic’s widely practice the reflection of Memento Mori “Remember, I will die”, they valued each and every moment.

Lesson 2: Accepting fate and embracing relationships

Marcus says, 

““Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together,but do so with all your heart.”

This quote was the birthplace of a saying that I tell myself almost everyday, “Whatever’s meant to happen always does.”

Instead of complaining, or playing the victim card, we should embrace our circumstance, our outcomes, and cherish the people that come in and out of our lives.

A thing isn’t  beautiful because it lasts, but because their is beauty in it, no matter how long it lasts.

It’s this idea of being outcome agnostic, receptive and prepared for whatever happens, with a calm reassurance that you’ll be okay.

Lesson 3: Taking ownership of your actions

Quote from Marcus,

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

This is a similar idea from one of his most famous lines, “focus on what you can control and accept that which you can’t.”

We aren’t responsible for what happens to us, we are responsible for how we react. Often times the obstacle, the struggle, the challenge that faces us in our lives is the thing, that if used properly, will make us better, stronger, and advance ourselves.

Discomfort creates growth, comfort breeds complacency.

Lesson 4: Valuing your own opinion

“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.”

Such a refreshing reminder on how so many of us care deeply about ourselves, yet we plague ourselves with worrying what others think of us.

The truth is, no one knows you better than yourself, and you have to weigh information and opinions with this in mind.

The safest hands are still our own.