I remember back in my early twenties, when I came across “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius. It was a difficult read for me, to be honest, but I followed through — and today, 8 years later, I’m glad I did!

This book inspired me to reflect on how I would like to conduct myself in life. How my thoughts are not always the best predictor for conquering difficult times. And how even powerful people, as Marcus Aurelius was, are not free from worry, anger and frustration.

It set in motion a cascade of positive changes in my outlook on life.
Towards the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Fortunately, there are more great stoics besides Marcus Aurelius, which I am grateful of having come to read about throughout my twenties:

The Fragility of Life

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think” — Marcus Aurelius

We must remind ourselves of our mortality and the impermanence of life.

By acknowledging that our time on earth is limited and could end at any moment, we can become more mindful of how we choose to spend our time and with which spirit we approach our actions.

We should strive to live in the present moment and make the most of our time, rather than getting caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.“ — Epictetus

It’s easy to talk about what we believe in or what we think is important, but it’s much harder to actually live our lives in a way that reflects those beliefs.

We should focus on living a life that is in alignment with our values and let our actions speak for themselves.The Courage to Embrace Vulnerability

If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.―Epictetus

Personal growth often requires us to step outside our comfort zones and take risks. In order to improve and learn new things, we must be willing to make mistakes and be seen as foolish by others.

We must be comfortable with being uncomfortable, embrace the process of learning and growing, and don’t let the opinions of others hold us back from pursuing goals meaningful to us.

Pursuing Meaningful Goals

What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. — Viktor Frankl

The pursuit of a worthwhile goal or purpose is essential for our personal growth and fulfillment.

By striving towards something greater than ourselves, we can find a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in our lives.

Don’t Make Things Worse Than They Need to Be

How does it help…to make troubles heavier by bemoaning them? — Seneca

Dwelling on our troubles and problems most often make them worse. While it’s natural to feel upset or frustrated when things don’t go our way, continually bemoaning our situation can make our troubles seem even heavier than they really are.

Seneca encourages us to approach our problems with a more constructive mindset, to focus on finding solutions rather than simply wallowing in self-pity or despair.

By acknowledging our troubles without getting bogged down by them, we can develop a more resilient and positive outlook and ultimately navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and grace.

---

Thank you for investing your time in reading this article.

I hope these stoic quotes have inspired you to approach life’s challenges with resilience, purpose, and a positive mindset.

— Nelson Dominguez