HOW TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE FROM THE WISDOM OF A ROMAN EMPEROR

A Statue of Marcus Aurelius

  Friedrich Nietzsche, A german philosopher famous for his culture critics, philiology, philosophical writings e.t.c was oce quoted as saying in one of his works; " He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." Perhaps one of the most precise statements relating to the timeless worrysome question mankind has tried to address being " What constitutes a morally fufilled life? A life jsutified in purpose and legacy." A wide renowned attempt at providing an answer to this question has been the written meditations of the Roman Emporor Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was born on 26 April 121 to Marcus Annius Verus III,  nephew to Emperor Hadrian and The heiress Domitia Lucilia.  following his father's and adopted father Antonnius pius's respective death. Marcus emerge as Emperor of the roman empire and all it's holdings. To give order and mental satiation to himself as well as foster self improvement whilst on successive military campaigns between 170 and 180, Marcus wrote his meditations in Greek. A book within which is contained several admonitions on how to live a good life or eudaemonia as the greeks called it meaning precisely Objective human flourishing over a life time. some of which are presented for brevity sake as follows:

 

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR THOUGHTS

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notion unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”  - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations. 

In this statement Marcus states the importance of positive thinking and gaurding against negative thoughts We really cannot stop thinking or constantly manage our thought process and this statement does not advise that we do so. It does say that we should make a habit of choosing those thoughts which appeal to the highest virtues of our positive aspirations. After all if our thought do indeed shape our lives, the outcomes and our persecptions of them, we might as well choose good ones.

BE PROACTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE TO YOUR SELF

The focal point of power lies in acting in the present. Marcus advises that to make the best of our lives and truly be happy, we should focus on what we can control and not on what we can't control.

As he says in his book; " You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." You make the most impact in life it seems by making your affairs your primary focus and not the mood and external wishes, thoughts and opinions of others. By donig so you will find balance, peace and freedom from the seemingly endless roller coaster that is life and its moments.

LIVE FULLY IN THE PRESENT

We will never experience this day again and with every passing moment our future becomes our past therefore the point of ease seems to be wholely consciously present in whatever moment you experience and not in fretting about the future nor dwelling on the past. You are here and you are alive. Live and act today like it were your last. 

ACCEPT THINGS AND PEOPLE AS THEY ARE.

Most of the misery we face as people on a daily basis come from our expectations of and on what things ought to be and how events ought to play out. A thing is itself and nothing else therefore we must learn to except reality in order to find peace in it. Acceptance is key to serenity and so its important to adjust ones expectations with the understanding that things and people act according to their nature and potential. Let go of a desire to alter reality and simply accept the nature of things as they are. Oddly enough this positions you to be more effective in your chosen endeavors and day to day life.


VIEW OBSTACLES AS OPPORTUNITIES

As humans we are faced with regular challanges some of which are quite duanting and difficult but with a little bit of perspective, psitive self talk and reframing we can get out of an all or nothing perception into one of confidence, hope and possiblities. Even when we stumble and fall in the process, we can through positive thinking and staying true to objectivity give ourselves a fighting chance in the arena of everyday living and life as a whole. 
In words of marcus aurelius; "Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it—turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself—so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal."