Stoicism for a Better Life – Weekly exercise (October 18, 2020)
Hello there,
For this week’s exercise, let us once again look to Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, which he wrote himself to keep disciplined in his own Stoic practices. This is VII 56-57:
“Think of the life you have lived until now as over and, as a dead man, see what’s left as a bonus and live it according to Nature. Love the hand that fate deals you and play it as your own, for what could be more fitting?”
This is such a powerful thought and exercise. I try and incorporate this into my daily morning routine to ensure I begin my day with the right perspective. We have an irrational fear of acknowledging our own mortality. In fact, we tend to harbour a lot of anxieties regarding our impermanence and we let these ideas fester in the recesses of our minds where we shove unwanted thoughts and feelings.
However, reflecting on mortality (which is 100% guaranteed) in a logical and rational manner often has the opposite effect of what you would expect. Instead of a sombre nihilistic sadness, one can find cosmic perspective, motivation and invigoration to make the most of our limited temporal time here. This is precisely what Marcus Aurelius is referring to in the above quote and the reason why the topic of death permeates the Stoic school of thought.
So as a practical exercise this week, try and reflect on your inevitable and unavoidable death. It may be uncomfortable at first, but try and embrace the fact that you are on a very short journey, and soon you will die. The goal of the exercise: Truly embrace the value of your time and use it the way such a valuable resource deserves to be used.
As always, if you want to keep the conversation going you can reach me on Twitter, Reddit or Patreon. You can even email me directly or leave voicemails on my Podcasts. All the links can be found on patreon.com/AndersonSIlver. You guys have a great week.
Anderson Silver
(Author of “Your User’s Manual”, “Vol 2: Your Duality Within”, and Vol 3: Your Dichotomy of Control)