Meditations, by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
- I believe this was the book Nelson Mandela was exposed to in prison, and for which he credits his survival and the relative lack of bloodshed associated with his transition to power.
- I have witnessed similar calmative and wisdom generating effects in some of my adopted children. I have read essays by different Stoics over the years, but I think he is one of the most widely read.
- I think we can learn much from the Stoics about living in this time. Personally, the best advice I can give people regarding value from the Stoics is it brings clarity and peace.
- Much of the peace is realizing that your focus should be on what you control, your response to the world’s various stimuluses and defining and living a good life. For me it’s treating others like I would want to be treated, and how I would want someone to treat my son, daughter, mother or father. This attitude has allowed me to give people the benefit of the doubt, and grace for their behavior to be chance and not designed to harm, humiliate or hurt me. This has brought me the most peace and prevented me from ruining my own happiness, many times. As my father use to say, Don’t let your own anger get in the way of you having a good time.