I

May 28th

THE FIRST   TWO THINGS  BEFORE  ACTING

“The    first   thing   to  do—don’t    get worked  up. For everything  happens according   to  the nature  of  all

things, and in  a   short   time    you’ll  be  nobody  and nowhere,    even    as  the great   emperors    Hadrian

and Augustus    are now.    The next    thing   to  do—consider carefully   the task    at  hand    for what    it  is,

while   remembering that    your    purpose is  to  be  a   good    human   being.  Get straight    to  doing   what

nature  requires    of  you,    and speak   as  you see most    just    and fitting—with    kindness,   modesty,    and

sincerity.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS,   MEDITATIONS,    8.5

magine, for a second, what Marcus’s life as an emperor must have been like. He would preside over
the Senate. He would lead the troops in battle, direct the grand strategy of the army as its highest
commander. He would also hear appeals—from citizens, from lawyers, from foreign governments. In
other words, like most people in power, he was called on to make decisions: all day, every day, decision
after decision.
His formula for decision making is a battle-tested method for doing and acting right—literally. Which
is why we ought to try to use it ourselves.
First, don’t get upset—because that will color your decision negatively and make it harder than it
needs to be.
Second, remember the purpose and principles you value most. Running potential actions through this
filter will eliminate the bad choices and highlight the right ones.
Don’t get upset.
Do the right thing.
That’s it.