Stoicism for a Better Life – Weekly exercise (December 26, 2021)

Hello there,

First off, Happy Holidays and I hope you got to relax and spend some time with loved ones to cultivate those relationships that are important to you. With the end of the year approaching, many of you have reached out with your New Year’s resolution. So this week, and the next, I wanted to offer some additional motivation to help with anyone who may be working on a new resolution. For part 1 this week on Stoicism for a Better Life, I will seek inspiration from the emperor philosopher himself from his Meditations IV 17: 

“Don’t behave as if you are destined to live forever. What’s fated hangs over you. As long as you live and while you can, become good now.” 

Let me tell you a story. There was once a king whose name was Dionysius. He was a very rich king and he lived in a palace filled with all the best things and had an army of servants who were always ready to do his bidding. But he also knew that many wanted him dead, for a king has many enemies who want his possessions, power or throne.

One day a friend of his named Damocles said how happy the king must be, for he has everything that any man could wish for. To this, the King replied that if he thought so they could switch places, so the two agreed to take on each others’ lives for a day.

And so, the next day, Damocles was led into the palace, and all the servants were waiting for their new master in the banquet hall. He sat down at a table, and rich foods were placed before him. Nothing was missing, he had everything he could have wished for on the table cooked to perfection, alongside costly wines, and beautiful flowers, and rare perfumes, and delightful music. He rested himself among soft cushions and felt that he was the happiest man in all the world.

Then he happened to raise his eyes toward the ceiling. Above his head was a sharp sword dangling by a single thread. The smile faded from the lips of Damocles. His face became ashy pale. He wanted no more food; he could drink no more wine; he took no more delight in the music.

Dionysius said “I know there is a sword above your head, and that it may fall at any moment. But why should that trouble you? I have a sword over my head all the time. I am every moment in dread lest something may cause me to lose my life.” After that day, so long as he lived, Damocles never again wanted to be rich, or to change places, even for a moment, with the king.

Fun fact: We’ve all heard the expression “hanging by a thread”. This expression comes from the moral story of the sword of Damocles. In the above quote, when Marcus Aurelius makes reference to “that which is fated hanging over one’s head”, he is referring to the same thing: Death hangs over our head. The reality is that life can be taken from us at any moment without notice. We hear this, we know this, yet we don’t believe it. If we did, we would not have such terrible goals and objectives. We would not say things like “I’ll get around to that” or “I’ll do that later” or “Maybe/Hopefully one day”. 

If we want to be good human beings and do the right thing, don’t plan on “getting around to it”. There is not guaranteed “later”. So, this week, try and live to be a good person with a sense of urgency. Do all the things you know to be right and don’t make any excuses. You may be tired, but at least you are alive and have the opportunity to do what you know to be right. Don’t wait to be the person you wish you will become one day. Be that person right now.

As always, I wish you a wise, tranquil and productive week. 

Anderson Silver, Stoicism for a Better Life

(Author of “Your User’s Manual”, “Vol 2: Your Duality Within” & “Vol 3: Your Dichotomy of Control”)