You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at an...
— Marcus Aurelius
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Marcus Aurelius wrote his 'Meditations' as private notes to himself while ruling the Roman Empire. Never intended for publication, they reveal a mind grappling with universal human struggles: anger, anxiety, mortality. The directness of self-talk creates unusual intimacy with readers across two millennia.
Imperative Voice:
'Tell yourself' and 'Realize this' are commands. Marcus speaks to himself with authority, modeling how we can take control of our own minds.Reframing:
External events become internal choices: 'the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it.' This technique empowers readers by shifting locus of control.Anticipatory Thinking:
Marcus prepares for difficulty before it arrives: 'The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant.' This prevents surprise and preserves equanimity.Write to yourself first. The most honest, useful writing often comes from working through your own problems on the page.
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