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extensive study of Stoic philosophy. Aurelius is now regarded as
one of the most famous proponents
and philosophers of Stoicism, an
ancient Greek and Roman school of
thought originating in the Hellenic
period concerned with how to cultivate a mindset to deal effectively
with any events or emotions.
Meditations is based around a
single, simple precept: “You have
power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you
will find strength.”
The last of the Five Good Emperors, Aurelius ruled over Rome
for 20 years until the time of his
death in 180 AD. He is widely regarded as one of the most respected emperors in Roman history.
“Marcus Aurelius was a true
paradox — an emperor with almost unlimited power to control
his world and circumstances, who
nevertheless had a deep understanding that happiness and peace
do not lie in the outside world,”
Arianna Huffington writes in her
forthcoming book, Thrive.
Meditations is “undoubtedly
one of history’s most effective formulas for overcoming every negative situation we may encounter
in life,” Ryan Holiday writes in
The Obstacle Is the Way.
THE THIRD
METRIC
HUFFINGTON
03.09.14
Never got a chance to read Meditations? Here are five of the most
important takeaways from the Roman Emperor’s magnum opus.
YOUR OWN HAPPINESS
IS UP TO YOU.
Life’s happiness, Aurelius said,
“depends upon the quality of
your thoughts.”
The crux of his philosophy is the
notion that while we cannot control what happens to us, we can
control our reactions to the events
of our lives — and this gives us im-
Life’s happiness,
Aurelius said, ‘depends upon
the quality of your thoughts.’”
mense strength and freedom.
It’s easier said than done, yes,
but Aurelius’s own life is proof
positive of this maxim. The
emperor faced great struggles
throughout his life, and his reign
was marred by near-constant warfare and disease. His brother and
parents also died at a young age.
Aurelius learned how to live
within his soul — or “inner citadel,” as he put it — a place of
peace and equanimity. Living from