Today’s Stoic: The Key to Unlocking Happiness Here we have Mozart explaining the habit he practiced everyday, the practice of Shakespeare talked about before him, the practice that the Stoics talked about centuries before either of them. It is the practice of keeping death in mind, not as something to fear, but as a friend, as an inspiring, consoling force that reminds us to be grateful and un-wasteful. “I have now made a habit of being prepared in all affairs of life for the worst. As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence, I have formed during the last few years such close relationships with this best and truest friend of mankind that his image is not only no longer terrifying to me but is indeed very soothing and consoling, and I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness. I never lie down at night without reflecting that—young as I am—I may not live to see another day. Yet not one of all my acquaintances could say that in my company I am morose or disgruntled. For this blessing I daily thank my creator.” People push back on memento mori as being morbid or dark. How ridiculous. It’s the opposite. Marcus Aurelius said, “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” Who on earth would think that thought--that they could have only a few minutes left on earth--and go, “Yeah, I should spend that time being upset or afraid or depressed.” In fact, this is the key to happiness. The jolt that keeps us in the present moment. The exercise that reminds us of what’s at stake. So don’t neglect it.

Today’s Stoic: The Key to Unlocking Happiness Here we have Mozart explaining the habit he practiced everyday, the practice of Shakespeare talked about before him, the practice that the Stoics talked about centuries before either of them. It is the practice of keeping death in mind, not as something to fear, but as a friend, as an inspiring, consoling force that reminds us to be grateful and un-wasteful. “I have now made a habit of being prepared in all affairs of life for the worst. As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence, I have formed during the last few years such close relationships with this best and truest friend of mankind that his image is not only no longer terrifying to me but is indeed very soothing and consoling, and I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness. I never lie down at night without reflecting that—young as I am—I may not live to see another day. Yet not one of all my acquaintances could say that in my company I am morose or disgruntled. For this blessing I daily thank my creator.” People push back on memento mori as being morbid or dark. How ridiculous. It’s the opposite. Marcus Aurelius said, “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” Who on earth would think that thought--that they could have only a few minutes left on earth--and go, “Yeah, I should spend that time being upset or afraid or depressed.” In fact, this is the key to happiness. The jolt that keeps us in the present moment. The exercise that reminds us of what’s at stake. So don’t neglect it.
by Jm Moran

August 06, 2018 at 09:51AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory." - Bernard Williams https://buff.ly/2LPYC2T

Quote of the Day: "We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory." - Bernard Williams https://buff.ly/2LPYC2T
by Jm Moran

August 01, 2018 at 04:05AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley https://buff.ly/2OsUHaO https://buff.ly/2vpkGqQ https://buff.ly/2v60Od8 https://buff.ly/2LSrtDL

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley https://buff.ly/2OsUHaO https://buff.ly/2vpkGqQ https://buff.ly/2v60Od8 https://buff.ly/2LSrtDL
by Jm Moran

August 01, 2018 at 02:08AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory." - Bernard Williams

Quote of the Day: "We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory." - Bernard Williams
by Jm Moran

August 01, 2018 at 01:05AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley https://buff.ly/2OsUHaO https://buff.ly/2vpkGqQ https://buff.ly/2v60Od8

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley https://buff.ly/2OsUHaO https://buff.ly/2vpkGqQ https://buff.ly/2v60Od8
by Jm Moran

July 31, 2018 at 08:41PM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley https://buff.ly/2OsUHaO https://buff.ly/2vpkGqQ

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley https://buff.ly/2OsUHaO https://buff.ly/2vpkGqQ
by Jm Moran

July 31, 2018 at 02:22PM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley https://buff.ly/2OsUHaO

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley https://buff.ly/2OsUHaO
by Jm Moran

July 31, 2018 at 04:05AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley

Quote of the Day: "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." - J. B. Priestley
by Jm Moran

July 31, 2018 at 01:04AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "You will never win if you never begin." - Helen Rowland

Quote of the Day: "You will never win if you never begin." - Helen Rowland
by Jm Moran

July 30, 2018 at 01:02AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Quote of the Day: "This is the precept by which I have lived: Prepare for the worst; expect the best; and take what comes." - Hannah Arendt

Quote of the Day: "This is the precept by which I have lived: Prepare for the worst; expect the best; and take what comes." - Hannah Arendt
by Jm Moran

July 29, 2018 at 01:14AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

Today’s Stoic: Treat Everyone With Respect, Even When You’re Frustrated...

One of the most interesting and personal parts of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is Book I, which consists entirely of his private gratitudes to friends and family. Marcus was particularly grateful and in awe of Antoninus, his adopted father and the Emperor of Rome who preceded Marcus. He points out the man’s “compassion,” his “constancy to friends--never getting up up with them,” and his unfailing dedication to the empire. He also writes that Antoninus “never exhibited rudeness, lost control of himself, or turned violent. No one ever saw him sweat.” These are all virtues verified by the historical record. But the most intriguing remark is Marcus’s reference to the way that Antoninus “accepted the customs agent’s apology at Tusculum.” We have no other details about this exchange, but given what we know about Marcus and Antoninus, here’s a guess: there was probably a miscommunication between the customs agent and the emperor. Perhaps the agent spoke to the emperor imprudently, or perhaps he failed to recognize who he was dealing with and accidently gave this powerful man a hard time. Given that Marcus praises Antoninus’s lack of arrogance, it stands to reason that he responded to this inconvenience kindly and forgivingly, that he didn’t get upset, and instead was understanding and respectful, even if he hadn’t been treated with the proper respect himself. While the rest of us aren’t emperors, we should do well to remember this example. How we treat the people we encounter in the course of an ordinary day matters--the waiters, the toll booth operators, the customer service representatives, the police officers, the cleanup crews. These people make the world go round. And yes, they are also human. They have bad days. They make mistakes. They don’t know who you are or what problems their policies or decisions might cause in your life, and even if they did they usually have very little decision-making power to change them anyway. Getting upset, yelling, treating them like dirt? This is embarrassing. To you. And something no other person should have to put up with. We could all get better at this. Especially us Stoics who claim to hold ourselves to high standards. Some people get so angry about issues with their orders with the Daily Stoic store it seems like they might pop a vein. On the one hand, it’s understandable. They paid for something. They want it. Makes total sense. But if you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you spend all this time getting upset that your memento mori coin was delayed? If you really believed in amor fati, would a package caught in customs or a slightly damaged order be that big of a problem? If you were actually combatting your ego, would you dare speak to anyone in the tone you speak to the faceless person on the other side of your customer service complaint? Especially to a small little operation, not some faceless multinational conglomerate. The answer to all this is no. The Stoic in us should strive to be like Antoninus--that is, to not be rude, to not lose control, and to be forgiving and tolerant when things don’t go your way. Everyone has bad days, we all have limits, but we should do our best to always treat everyone we encounter with respect, even if they frustrate us, make mistakes, or keep us from getting what we want. Most likely, they’re trying their best too. And if we remember that, it will help us keep our cool and get closer to being the kind of person we’d want to be if any of those calls “recorded for training purposes” were ever made public.

Signing off for this week good citizens, have a safe and blessed weekend everyone! SM1/JoMike

Signing off for this week good citizens, have a safe and blessed weekend everyone! SM1/JoMike
by Jm Moran

July 27, 2018 at 10:00PM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT

#FollowFriday to all my great followers. :)

#FollowFriday to all my great followers. :)
by Jm Moran

July 27, 2018 at 11:00AM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT