I

November    18th

FOUR    HABITS  OF  THE STOIC   MIND

“Our    rational    nature  moves   freely  forward in  its impressions when    it:

1)  accepts nothing false   or  uncertain;

2)  directs its impulses    only    to  acts    for the common  good;

3)  limits  its desires and aversions   only    to  what’s  in  its own power;

4)  embraces    everything  nature  assigns it.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS,   MEDITATIONS,    8.7

f you notice, Marcus repeatedly reminds himself what Stoicism is. These bullet points are helpful to
those of us reading thousands of years later, but really they were intended to be helpful to him. Maybe
that day he had accepted a bad impression or had acted selfishly. Maybe he had pinned his hopes on
something outside his control or complained and fought against something that had happened. Or maybe it
had just been awhile since he’d thought about these things and wanted a reminder.
Whatever his case was, or whatever ours is today, let’s align our minds along these four critical
habits:

1. Accept only what is true.


2. Work for the common good.


3. Match our needs and wants with what is in our control.


4. Embrace what nature has in store for us.