Goals
Color Your Thoughts
“[The Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher] Marcus [Aurelius] was like us. He wasn’t naturally extraordinary. He wasn’t born to greatness. His destiny was not pre-ordained. So how did it happen? How are we here today—what would have been his 1900th birthday—still talking about him?
We’ve talked before about the dream Marcus had. The one where his shoulders were made of ivory, signalling to him that he could do it, that he could be king.
But what’s important for us to remember—at least those of us who have never experienced such lofty portentous dreams—is what happened after. Marcus didn’t wake up with a bottomless reservoir of confidence all of the sudden. It was not as if a switch had been permanently flipped. Over and over in Meditations, we see Marcus writing messages of reassurance to himself:
Not to assume it’s impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it’s humanly possible, you can do it too.
You can do it, if you simply recognize: that they’re human too.
Yes, you can—if you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life…you can manage this.
Marcus talked about how our life takes on the color of our thoughts. If you hold a perpetually negative outlook, soon enough everything you encounter will seem negative. And in those moments when you don’t think you can do something, it’s very likely you won’t be able to do it.
The same thing holds true for a positive outlook, however. Color your mind with the right thoughts, color them with what’s possible, and then whatever you’re trying to do—whether it’s trying to start a company or salvage a relationship or lose twenty pounds or quit drinking or make partner at your law firm—you’ll be able to manage it.
That is not to say that things won’t be hard, regardless of your outlook. But you have stronger shoulders than you know. People less talented, less determined, less privileged than you have succeeded at similar things. With a positive outlook—of course you can do this. You just need to focus. You need to grit your teeth and get to work.”
– The Daily Stoic
Washington, District Of Columbia (2011)
From FB:
“To the family of hippie tourists with their SIX kids on the Metro, screaming and yelling, while you thoughtlessly and obliviously sat together and happily chatted away: I hate you. Get out of my town.”
Still Valid
“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”
– Tecumseh
Song Of Ajax 