Here’s how the philosopher-king dealt with the stresses of leading the Roman Empire.
We all suffer from stress.
Whether it be an upcoming presentation, a big decision or financial debt weighing heavy on our minds -all of these situations cause us to feel anxious as we imagine a dreary, negative future.
This was something I had to deal with when I was in my late 20s.
I had a debt problem and couldn’t seem to decrease it. I wasn’t making a lot of money each month and the interest rates kept rising and rising.
I was stressed out and every time the topic of money crept into my mind, I would spiral down a black hole of worry.
I’d tell myself that I was never going to pay it off and start panicking because I felt I was never going to be able to live a financially stable and comfortable life.
I lived in my imagined fears and it prevented me from living in reality, where I could’ve been proactive and found solutions to my problem.
This is why Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor and one of the most famous Stoics, constantly tells us to not fixate on imagined fears because there’s no point in giving something that may or may not happen extra attention.
It’s better, he says, to put your energy into solving the problem.
This was one of the principles he followed as he led the Roman Empire from 161 to 180 AD.
Why Would Marcus Aurelius Be Stressed Out?
You may be thinking Marcus Aurelius, as a powerful ruler, didn’t have much to worry about because he ruled Rome during a time when it was filled with corruption.
But the thing about him is that he was an ethical and just leader. He wanted to help the Roman citizens and make Rome better.
So when Rome faced challenges such as the Parthian War, the Antonine Plague, and the Marcomannic Wars, he didn’t pass off tasks to his advisors from the comfort of his bed as slaves and servants fed and massaged him.
No. He went to the Forum and to the battlegrounds daily to lead. He was in the trenches working with his unit to find solutions.
And if he hadn’t kept his head on his shoulders by focusing on the present moment, by being mindful, he wouldn’t have been as successful as he was.
How Marcus Aurelius Dealt With Stress
So, here’s how the philosopher-king dealt with the stresses from the challenges he faced:
7 Quotes From Meditations on How to Manage Stress
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions – not outside.”
“All you need are these: certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.”
“Nothing that goes on in anyone else’s mind can harm you… Then where can harm be found?… In your capacity to see it. Stop doing that and everything will be fine.”
“Don’t let your imagination be crushed by life as a whole. Don’t try to picture everything bad that could possibly happen. Stick with the situation at hand, and ask, ‘Why is this so unbearable? Why can’t I endure it?’ You’ll be embarrassed to answer.”
“Frame your thoughts like this— you are an old person, you won’t let yourself be enslaved by this any longer.”
“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.”
Final Thoughts
Marcus Aurelius was a wise and remarkable person.
So, if you want to escape the spiral that stress and anxiety tend to cause, learn from him and apply his wisdom.