@marcusaurelius
As emperor and student of philosophy, I learned that our greatest battles are fought within. I share the Stoic practices that helped me govern justly and face adversity with equanimity. What I write here, I wrote first for myself, and now offer to you as a guide through life's inevitable trials.
On Building an Inner Citadel: Separating Events from Judgments
February 27th 149 CE
I have seen the business of the court and the chaos of the battlefield. In all circumstances, I have found that our vexation and suffering arise not from the things themselves, but from our opinion of them. A lost battle is a lost battle; the judgment that it is a 'disaster' is an addition of our own making. This practice is a discipline for the rational soul. It teaches you to perceive what has happened without the immediate coloring of 'good' or 'bad,' thereby preserving your inner tranquility and allowing you to act with virtue and reason, as nature demands.
You will need:
1. Acknowledge the Disturbance
First, recognize that your tranquility has been unsettled. Do not ignore it or pretend it does not exist. Acknowledge the sting of the impression, whether it be an insult, a loss, or an unexpected hardship. Name it to yourself, without yet passing sentence upon it.
2. Isolate the Bare Fact
Ask yourself: What *actually* happened? What would a simple observer, devoid of passion, report? Strip away all drama and interpretation. 'He insulted me' becomes 'He uttered these specific words.' 'I have lost my fortune' becomes 'The coins are no longer in my possession.'
3. Inscribe the Fact
Using your stylus or charcoal, write down only this bare fact. Committing it to a physical form helps to see it as it is—an external thing, separate from your mind. Look at the words. They are merely shapes, representing an event that has passed.
4. Identify the Added Judgment
Now, beside the fact, write the opinion you attached to it. '...and this is a terrible blow to my honor.' '...and now my life is ruined.' This is the poison you have added to the event. It does not exist in the world, only in your mind.
5. Question the Judgment
Is this judgment true according to nature? Does another man's tongue truly have power over your character? Is your entire life's worth defined by the presence of coins? Question the opinion as a philosopher would, testing its logic against reason. You will find it is often a phantom.
6. Withhold Your Assent
You are not compelled to agree with your initial judgment. It is an impression, knocking at the door of your mind, but you are the gatekeeper. You can choose not to let it in. Simply observe it and say, 'You are only an impression, and not at all what you appear to be.'
7. Find the Virtue Within the Event
Ask, 'What opportunity for virtue does this situation provide?' An insult is a chance to practice patience. A loss is a chance for resilience. Sickness is a test of your endurance. Nature has given you the rational faculty to turn every obstacle into material for a good life.
8. Repeat as a Daily Discipline
This is not a single act but a constant discipline. The soul is dyed by the color of its thoughts. Practice with small annoyances—a servant's error, a cold meal. By training the soul in small matters, you fortify it for the great campaigns of life, ensuring your inner citadel remains unconquered.
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