If you don’t use your time to free yourself, you’ll remain a slave. That’s a pretty strong statement. Marcus Aurelius doesn’t make it lightly: “Remember how long you’ve been putting this off, how many extensions the gods gave you, and you didn’t use them . … Continue readingYou’re running out of second chances.
Pointing out someone’s mistakes doesn’t make you wise. Most of the time, it just makes you feel superior. Marcus Aurelius expressed gratitude to the literary critic Alexander when he talked about what he learned from the man, which was: “Not to be constantly correcting people, … Continue readingBeing a Grammar Nazi is not wisdom.
Distractions are everywhere these days. I have four other tabs open as I’m writing this. And I’m listening to a song that reminds me of a favorite TV show, so I keep wanting to get up and dance around and think about how cool the … Continue readingStop distracting yourself from what matters
Trisha is the winner of the book lantern giveaway! * This wonderful little item looks like a journal. But when you open it up, it’s actually a cute paper lantern. It glows with a variety of colors, or you can set it to cycle through … Continue readingCongrats to Trisha Hennegan!
Marcus Aurelius was a busy man. Yet he always made time for meditation. He considered the ordering of his mind an essential task. It was not only important for his own personal happiness—it’s no exaggeration to say the wellbeing of the entire empire depended on … Continue readingOne thing all unhappy minds have in common.
Marcus Aurelius had to deal with a lot of assholes. He was, after all, the emperor of Rome. While he must have been intentional about surrounding himself with people who were at the tops of their fields, and who were smart in ways that he … Continue readingThe Stoic way of leaving the assholes alone
Marcus Aurelius writes of himself—his the choices he’s made in life, and of the tendencies of his character—with humble and genuine appreciation. It’s the kind of thing I don’t see a lot of today. Self-deprecation is generally more acceptable than self-appreciation. Marcus was tough on … Continue readingHow to practice self-love like a Stoic
Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is divided into 12 books. Book One is entirely devoted to gratitude. Marcus lists people who have played important roles in his life, and he expresses gratitude for what they’ve taught him. He notes beautiful qualities, which he strives to emulate: “From … Continue readingPump up your gratitude muscle with Marcus Aurelius
Your experiences are filtered through your mind. There is nothing in this world that you can see, know, or do that is not colored by your perception and your perspective. In a very real sense, you can’t actually know anything as it truly is. You … Continue readingMeet Marcus Aurelius and get your head right.
Caravaggio was a brilliant painter and a hot-tempered brawler. From humble beginnings (he’s said to have fled Milan after fighting and attacking a police officer, and to have wandered into Rome naked and penniless), he developed a reputation as a skilled, dramatically talented artist. That … Continue readingHeralds of the Fall book cover reveal!