Stoicism for a Better Life – Weekly exercise (August 21, 2019)

Hello there,

With back to school around the corner, vacations ending and summer almost behind us, let us make an effort to strengthen our volition as we enter busier and more turbulent times with some simple words from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations IV 3 :

“… tranquillity is nothing else than the good ordering of the mind.”

In today’s popular lore, Stoicism gets many wrong interpretations, including a lack of emotions. Our ancient guides teach us to accept and live with emotions, not be devoid of them. For example, Marcus says many times that bravery is not the lack of fear, but the capacity to do what is right even while afraid. In the same way, tranquillity is not the lack of afflicted emotions and feelings, but the capacity to for equanimity even while perturbed.

To achieve this goal, we must train ourselves and make concerted efforts as often as possible. But this week, let us go back to basics and just talk to ourselves (or as Marcus Aurelius likes to put it, “check-in with yourself”). So this week, make an effort to grab a journal or a piece of paper and a pen, and talk to yourself on paper. Do this at least once a day. For those who already write, make an effort to do it twice a day. Talk to yourself on paper as when you write you are more likely to be using your rational intelligent mind, as opposed to your primitive animal mind. Talk to yourself every day about your fears, anxieties, worries, etc and write down what you think the most rational response would be, while you are in equanimity (premeditatio malorum). Let us know if it helped or changed your perspective in any way.

As always, much love to you all and I wish you a wise, tranquil and productive week.

Anderson Silver

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