Stoicism for a Better Life – Weekly exercise (Apr 24, 2019)

Hello there,

This week for our guidance, let us look at Marcus Aurelius Meditations IV 18:

“What richness of leisure does he gain who has no eye for his neighbour’s words or deeds or thoughts, but only for his own doings, that they be just and righteous! Truly, it is not for the good man to peer about into the blackness of another’s heart, but to run straight for the goal with never a glance aside.”

In this day of social media and reality TV we are all too quick to judge others to try and find reasons to pat ourselves on the back (“look at that…at least I don’t do that…or act like that”). Turns out this was a problem even two millennia ago in ancient Rome. And we all do this to differing degrees, whether family embers, colleagues, other drivers, etc. We are far too concerned about what other people think, and not enough to put in order our own thought and feelings.

So this week, when you catch yourself thinking about what others are thinking or doing, remind yourself you barely have enough bandwidth to focus on what you are doing as the human brain can think of one thing at a time. So catch yourself, and shift your focus on your own Prohairesis to find something to improve on.

Good luck to all this week, and as usual, share your stories if you feel like it (many get inspiration from just reading about others’ journeys).

Much love

Anderson Silver

(Author of “Your User’s Manual” and “Vol 2: Your Duality Within”)