The Daily Stoic - Marcus Had A Dream | The Most Life Changing Marcus Aurelius Quotes

Episode Date: March 7, 2023

It was last night 1,862 years ago that Marcus Aurelius had a dream.A few years earlier, when Marcus received the news of Hadrian’s plans to have Antoninus Pius adopt him and place him next in line for the throne, he broke down in tears. There was no one he revered more than Antoninus. How could he possibly live up to the task of following in his footsteps?Today, you would say that Marcus was struggling with what we call “imposter syndrome.” As the story goes, the night before he was to become emperor on March 7, 161 AD — Marcus had a dream.---To commemorate this dream and the man himself, Ryan presents 45 of his favorite life-changing quotes from Marcus Aurelius.📕 Visit dailystoic.com/leather to pick up your own copy of the Premium Leather Edition of The Daily Stoic.✉️  Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Check out the Daily Stoic Store for Stoic inspired products, signed books (including The Boy Who Would be King), and more.📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoic Podcast early and add free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. Welcome to the Daily Stoic Podcast, where each day we read a passage of ancient wisdom designed to help you in your everyday life. On Tuesdays, we take a closer look at these stoic ideas, how we can apply them in our actual lives. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy. Marcus had a dream. It was last night, 1862 years ago that Marcus Eurelius had a dream. A few years earlier, when Marcus received the news of Hadrian's plans to have Antoninus Pius adopt him and place him next in line for the throne,

he broke down in tears. There was no one he revered more than Antoninus, how could he possibly live up to the task of following in his footsteps? Today, we would say that Marcus was struggling with imposter syndrome. And as the story goes, the night before he was to become emperor on March 7th, 161 AD, Marcus had a dream.

In the dream, Marcus found that his shoulders were made of ivory. It was a sign. It was not an imposter. He was not weak. He could do it. And then guess what? He did it. He had stronger shoulders than he thought.

Stoicism had stiffened his spine and upper body. Well, the same is true for you. Your shoulders are made of ivory also. That is not to say that things won't be hard, but you have stronger shoulders than you know. You have stoicism to help you carry the load. Today here on the anniversary of Marcus' ascension, celebrate by reminding yourself of what Marcus kept reminding himself, not to assume it's impossible because you find it hard, but to recognize that if it's humanly possible,

you can do it too. Whatever it is, yes, you can do it too. You don't need to dream about it. You are not an imposter. Your shoulders are made of ivory. Look when Marcus ascends to this throne in 161, he has no idea what's in store for him, but throughout his reign he endures wars and a horrific plague, even the death of his children.

But he kept his journal with him and that journal provided the gentle reminders he needed to persevere through life's many challenges. And as you know, miraculously, this survives. And 2,000 years later, meditations continues to provide a profound prescription for wisdom and justice and discipline, and courage. And if you want to read it, we have this amazing leather edition set to stand the test of time to stick with you through thick and thin.

It's the translation that I first read many years ago and now this special edition sits on my nightstand and on my desk and I just love it so much. You can check it out at bayleastoak.com slash leather. And I think you'll really, really like it. And this story of the shoulders, Marcus and his shoulders is also told in the boy who would be King. If you want to tell the story of Marcus who realized to your children,

I wrote it for my two young sons, and you know, they roll their eyes now when they hear Marcus's name, but I think the message is getting across and I think it'll work for your kids too. You can check that out at dailystoic.com slash King. The Dell Technologies Black Friday in July event is on with limited quantity deals on top business PCs with Windows 11 Pro. Save on select Vostro laptops with built-in OS recovery fingerprint readers

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by Web Bank, who determines qualifications for in terms of credit. Marcus Aurelius. Concentrate every minute on doing what's in front of you. You don't have to turn this into something, it doesn't have to upset you. The present is all we have to live in or to lose. Stop whatever you're doing for a moment and ask yourself, am I afraid of death because I won't be able to do this anymore?

Let each thing you would do, say or intend be like that of a dying person. The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts. Today I escape anxiety. Well no, I discarded it because it was within me, in my own perceptions, not outside. You have to assemble your life yourself, action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way. The best revenge is not to be like your enemy. You can also commit injustice by doing nothing. Receive without pride. Let go without attachment.

If it's endoral, then endure it. Stop complaining. Have I done something for the common good? Then I share in the benefits. It never ceases to amaze me. We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own. It's unfortunate that this has happened.

No, it's fortunate that this has happened. No, it's fortunate that this has happened and I've remained unharmed. If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it. True, do not say it. You always own the option of having no opinion. Ask yourself at every moment, is this necessary? If something is humanly possible, it's attainable by you too. Think of yourself as dead.

You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly. Someone despises me. That's their problem. Everything is born from change. You have power over your mind, not outside events. When jarred, unavoidably by circumstance, revert at once to yourself and don't lose the rhythm more than you can help. You could leave life right now.

Let that determine what you do, say, and think. Our life is what our thoughts make it. If you don't have a consistent goal in life, you can't live it in a consistent way. Get back up when you fail. Celebrate behaving like a human. Limit yourself to the present. The tranquility that comes when you stop caring what they say, or think, or do. Only what you do. Don't you see how much you have to offer? or do only what you do.

Don't you see how much you have to offer, and yet you still settle for less. Mastery of reading and writing requires a master. Master. The struggle is great. The task divine. To gain mastery, freedom, happiness and tranquility. Do not let others hold you back. A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it. To love only what happens, no greater harmony. If it's humanly possible, you can do it too. Choose not to be harmed and you won't feel harmed.

Don't feel harmed and you haven't been. Don't procrastinate. Don't confuse. Don't wander. Don't be passive or aggressive. Don't be all about business. Love the hand that faith deals you and play it as your own. Practice even what seems impossible. There is never any need to get worked up about things you can't control. even what seems impossible. There is never any need to get worked up about things you can't control. People exist for one another.

The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength. Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoic early and ad free on Amazon music, download the Amazon music app today, or you can listen early and ad free with Wondery Plus in Apple free on Amazon Music, download the Amazon Music app today, or you can listen early and add free with Wondery Plus in Apple podcasts.