Stoicism for a Better Life – Weekly exercise (August 23, 2020)
Hello there,
For this exercise, let us seek some inspiration on the perils of ambition, pleasure and possessions, from the man who was at the top of the social and political ladder. This is from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations VI 51:
“The lover of glory conceives his own good to consist in another’s action, the lover of pleasure in his own feelings, but the possessor of understanding in his own actions.”
What do you want in life? As a product of the Western world, before I began my journey down this path of virtue, I was chasing money, titles and possessions. I found my worth in my salary, my title, how many people reported into me and how nice my things were. However, all these things are subjective. A VP title in one company might be the equivalent (in salary and responsibility) of a Manager title in another. The number of people reporting into me may be larger with a lesser salary in one company (which has manual labour for example) versus another where fewer but higher ranked people report into you. Which is better? A car is a car. It gets you from point A to point B. If one is more expensive than another, it is perceived to be better. But is that really true? Have you never paid more for something of a lesser quality? Moreover, if you have the most expensive car in the block, you may find that you have the cheapest one after you move tp a new neighbourhood new.
These are all subjective, that is, their “goodness” or “badness” depends on the subject evaluating them. So by chasing these external labels I was (at the time) pegging myself to be the slave of what everyone else was doing, as I was comparing myself to others’ titles, salaries and things.
The same thing can be said about one who pursues pleasures. Something may be great, fun and pleasurable. But it will quickly become less exciting and enticing when something more pleasurable and fun comes along. Then one looks for the next high. And the next one. Until there is nothing more pleasurable, and everything you had been “enjoying” loses its luster. This too, is another way in which one would tie their “happiness” and the “goodness” of their lives to externals.
What Marcus Aurelius is reminding himself (and us) here is that the only thing that is truly a fair evaluation of whether we are living a good life worthy of living is our own judgments and intentions for actions. Everything else (which is external) is subjective to one degree to another, because it is dependent on externals to one degree or another. But our actions (or rather our intentions for them) and our judgments are entirely in our control. We have 100% control over the outcome of our judgments and intentions, which happen in the instant moment…the “Here and Now”…and so they are an end to themselves.
So as a practical exercise this week, try and remain focused (as much as you can) on your judgments and intentions in your present moment. Focus only on what you control, in your continuous sequence of your “Here and Nows”. Everything else is in the domain of that which is not dependent on you. They are subjective and dependent on others and the universe. Focus on what you can do (truly do) and do that to the best of your capacities. That is the only key to a good life.
I wish you a tranquil and productive week my friends.
Anderson Silver
(Author of “Your User’s Manual” and “Vol 2: Your Duality Within”)