#008: Begin your day like this

It's March 8, 161 AD, precisely at 5 am, I imagine; the newly crowned Roman Emperor wakes up to a day not unlike others. His father, the man he most admires, passed away the previous day, thrusting him into a position of unparalleled power. Yet the new emperor begins his day as always— with self-reflection and stoic meditation. He looks in the mirror and whispers to himself, "Today, I shall meet with the Busy Body, the ungrateful, the arrogant, the deceitful, envious, unsocial."

Known as the philosopher king, Marcus Aurelius was a diligent student of Stoicism - a philosophy focusing on differentiating what we can control from what we cannot. He studied the great Stoic philosophers like Zeno (known as the founder of Stoicism), Seneca, and Epictetus. To navigate the tumultuous waters of Roman politics and wars, he would need to - as Stoicism promotes - maintain his inner calm, regardless of external circumstances.

Stoicism: Perception, Action, and Will

Three key disciplines form the foundation of Stoic philosophy. First is the Discipline of Perception, determining how we perceive the world or a situation. Second is the Discipline of Action, guiding our responses and interactions. Lastly, the Discipline of Will cultivates our mindset to face life's challenges.

Marcus Aurelius understood the importance of starting the day right. His daily routine included setting his perception for the day and aligning his mindset with Stoic virtues. He's not waiting to be in the middle of an argument before reminding himself of his Stoic virtues. He's training himself daily, morning after morning, so this perspective becomes second nature. This is the true value of any morning routine—to build good habits that become second nature.

The emperor faced obstacles most of us could only imagine: wars, political schemes, and betrayals. He maintained his sanity by keeping a daily journal, a constant reminder of the stoic virtue he strived to uphold.

In today's world, where we are constantly interacting with a wide variety of personalities, both in person and online, Marcus Aurelius's practice is even more relevant. You will have to deal with people you never have and will never meet —and test you, they will. A routine of setting your perception for the day can be a game-changer. It helps you prepare for negative situations, respond appropriately, and appreciate each moment.

Breaking Down Aurelius' Morning Meditation

Your daily meditation should set you up for the day and train your perception of the situations and people you encounter. Recent research has come to back up what Marcus Aurelius and many other Stoics knew were the benefits of beginning your day with a morning routine that sets your perception of the realities of the world.

Let's break down Marcus Aurelius' morning meditation:

Set Expectations with Negative Visualization: 

Every one of us will encounter one of these people every day. If it's not a busybody, it will be the arrogant or the unsocial. A recent study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who practiced negative visualization reported higher gratitude and life satisfaction levels, had increased emotional resilience, and were better at decision-making and planning. Negative visualization trains your mind to anticipate the bad stuff so you are not thrown off by negativity, and it sets a baseline that allows you to appreciate each moment for the blessing it is and to be more grateful throughout your day.

Compassion Over Blame:

According to Stoics, the highest good is virtue—moral excellence rooted in wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. External factors like wealth, reputation, and health are indifferent—they neither contribute to nor detract from our moral worth. On the other hand, Stoicism views evil as rooted in ignorance and the resulting vices. If good and virtue stem from knowledge and wisdom, then evil arises from a lack of these qualities. Therefore, actions we might label 'evil' stem from ignorance of what is truly good.

Here, the emperor sets a perspective of compassion, giving himself reasons not to blame people and to be understanding, empathetic, and compassionate towards everyone—even if they get on his last nerve.

Values and Self-Identity:

He is saying, "I know better. I am the bigger man. I know what is in my control and what isn't. I know the difference between good and evil. The other individual who displays these vices doesn't know because if they did if they had the wisdom that I have, they wouldn't behave like this."

Shared Humanity:

We are the same. We are family. And I cannot hate or hurt my family. Here is a man who has every right to think of himself as different by virtue of his position. He has every right to treat people differently. But instead, he reminds himself that we are all made of the same stuff.

Control and Acceptance:

You see the separation of what is in your control and what is not. You can't control how someone behaves, but you can control how you respond to them. It is in our power to adopt this attitude. Firstly, no one can hurt you without your approval; secondly, don't lower yourself to their standards. Remain in control.

Cooperation Over Conflict:

If you want to embody the stoic perspective—to stay calm in every encounter, be compassionate towards others, and use reason in every situation—you have to acknowledge our shared humanity and give yourself no reason to hate or get angry at others because "it is contrary to nature." Acting according to nature, a cornerstone of Stoicism, emphasizes cooperation and harmony over conflict.

Applying Stoicism as Nomads:

The most powerful man of his time made room for daily self-reflection. If he could, surely you can, too. As modern-day nomads, we may face different challenges and encounter various personalities, yet Aurelius's stoic practices can provide guidance. You can start by adapting Aurelius's morning practice or creating a personalized one that aligns with stoic principles. Consider these key elements:

1. Negative visualization to set expectations.

2. Compassion and understanding towards others.

3. Reaffirming personal values and identity.

4. Recognizing our shared humanity.

5. Separating what's within our control from what's not.

6. Emphasizing cooperation over conflict.

Your Daily Stoic Practice

What could your daily Stoic routine look like? Share your thoughts with me. Let's learn from each other and grow together, practicing Stoicism in our modern world, just as Marcus Aurelius did in his time.