There are few words that stir dread to us fearless youth. Responsibilities, commitments, 13 missed calls from mom are some of them. But nothing strikes quite as hard as weekday mornings when we have to get up to prepare for school or work, fighting against the pull of gravity generated by our beds. Rising is a chore itself. But this is just one of the things we have to go through each day. The list includes the assholes we encounter during commutes or in the workplace, the work itself, and the random misfortune to top it all off. What can one do when the universe itself seems to conspire against us? Taking a stoic approach enabled me to face these daily endeavours with grace and strength. Now I share it with you.

Negative Visualization

“When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: the people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil.”

– Marcus Aurelius, Meditations p.91

We know something wrong is bound to happen within the day, and although it appears a pessimistic approach, it makes sense to anticipate it before it occurs. We fare better in a storm when we prepare for it than not. By anticipating misfortune, we are can react better and move pass them by doing what is appropriate.

Nothing is permanent

Let’s further cement that pessimistic perspective, shall we? Long story short, nothing motivates like death or at least the thought that nothing lasts forever. Let this ground you: you can lose everything you own or everyone you love in a snap. Hell, you can die any time. That being said, be in your best behaviour in all circumstances as much as you can. Treat everyone kindly, justly, and to those who matter, with love for tomorrow is promised to no one. The dispute you had with your parents might as well be the last time you ever speak with them, so never leave things on a sour note. Whatever joy or distress is given to us by fate, we must cling onto the thought that everything passes by. Do not let the impermanence of things cause bitterness in you.

“To welcome with affection what is sent by fate. Not to stain or disturb the spirit within him with a mess of false beliefs. Instead, to preserve it faithfully, by calmly obeying God – saying nothing untrue, doing nothing unjust.”

– Marcus Aurelius, Meditations p.111

Misfortune happens to everyone

I am not downplaying your sufferings nor your sentiments. Everyone has a tragedy or two waiting for them so consider it as part of our lives, and to treat them as we should all things: in calm, objective manner. For us stoics, we believe that everything happens as they should and that there are things to be learned from them. These are beyond our control so we must accept them for what they are but not let them stir us. In our control are our reactions and thoughts on them. Marcus Aurelius encourages us to be “like the rock that the waves keep crashing over”, unmoved.

“What’s thrown on top of the conflagration is absorbed, consumed by it – and makes it burn still higher”

– Marcus Aurelius, Meditations p.113

It is during these trying moments that our resilience is tested. After all, a sword’s quality is put to the test when put in flame. Let these misfortunes be our catalysts in becoming better people.

Despite all of these, it’s a still a wonderful life

The universe might seem to have a fetish in making our lives difficult, but the fact that we live, that we are conscious, not inanimate objects, that we are given the opportunity to experience multitudes of things, these make life worthwhile. Let’s make the most out of this one life we have.