This content outlines ten key insights from Marcus Aurelius's Meditations on how to cultivate self-discipline, emphasizing purpose, self-reliance, consistency, and mindful control over one's actions and reactions.
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if you want to build self-discipline
you'd do well to listen to the words of
Marcus Aurelius he was the emperor of
Rome from 161 to 180 A.D and is
considered as the last of the five good
Emperors during his rule Aurelius found
the time to construct a series of
autobiographical writings now known as
the meditations in these writings the
Roman Emperor offered a number of key
insights on how to build self-discipline
here are 10 of the most important of
those insights for self-discipline from
the writings of Marcus Aurelius
number one self-discipline starts with
finding your purpose Marcus Aurelius
says I have to go to work as a human
being what do I have to complain of if
I'm going to do what I was born for the
things I was brought into this world to
do or is this what I was created for to
huddle under the blankets and stay warm
Marcus Aurelius believed that we each
have a purpose something that we were
created for it's our duty to carry out
that purpose because its purpose that
gets you out of bed each morning if you
have a clear understanding of your goals
and how your task fits within them
you're much more likely to complete
those goals for example say you have a
flat tire and need to change it your
purpose is clear change the tire as
quickly as possible so you can get on
your way you're going to do that task no
matter how tired you feel the biggest
source of self-discipline is to have a
reason to do the task if you don't know
what to do just start if you want to be
a writer write every day if you want to
be an artist draw and create every day
anything you want to do you don't need
any more motivation or research or
advice you just start practicing
something you're interested in and
Tackle every day as it comes because
it's your purpose that will give you an
internal desire drive and motivation to
propel you forward towards your goal
self-discipline is about finding
compelling reasons to do something then
committing yourself to see that task or
activity through to the very end
number two count on yourself
according to Marcus Aurelius you should
turn your desire to Stone quench your
appetites keep your mind centered on
itself after you have a solid purpose
it's time now to build a practical plan
of action to help you accomplish your
goal you shouldn't just commit to your
goals but commit to all the little
actions that you'll take along the way
in pursuit of those goals we must be
fully committed to doing whatever it
takes to get the job done no matter what
challenges get in the way
self-discipline is the ability to get
yourself to take action to do what you
need to do regardless of your physical
mental or emotional state
everything you want in your life
everything you want to have be and do
depends on your ability to get yourself
to take the necessary actions to achieve
your goals whether you feel like it or not
not
you can start with forming an effective
plan of action that is comprised of a
deadline for accomplishing your goal it
must also be built on the foundation of
many Milestones that break your goal
down into manageable chunks many
Milestones will ensure that you're
working towards your desired outcome in
small pieces and time blocks this tactic
puts you in the driver's seat it gives
you a sense of control over the tasks
and projects that you're working on what
you're ultimately trying to avoid is
succumbing to being overwhelmed
overwhelming can quickly digress to
procrastination and procrastination can
subsequently lead to stagnation and of
course where their stagnation
self-discipline cannot exist
number three show up every day
Marcus Aurelius says You must build up
your life action by action and be
content if each one achieves its goal as
far as possible and no one can keep you
from this
even after having a solid purpose and a
practical plan 95 of us fail to achieve
our goals we fail because we fail to be
consistent we need to show up every day
and put in the work the simple act of
showing up and immersing yourself in
your craft does wonders for mental
endurance you build focus and come to
terms with the arduous process that it
takes to achieve anything great you have
to put in countless hours of work before
you reap any of the benefits
self-discipline is nothing more but the
habit of consistency finding the
motivation to do something again and
again until you do it on autopilot and
start seeing results so even if you fail
once for example if you didn't exercise
when you know you should have this
doesn't Define your character your
ability to keep going is what molds you
into a disciplined and strong person a
bad day doesn't have to become a bad
week A bad week doesn't have to become a
bad year the moment you wake up remember
that new day is a new new life and move
forward by opening your eyes and
focusing on what's in front of you which
is life itself number four practice
voluntary hardship
in the words of Marcus Aurelius we
should discipline ourselves in small
things and from there progress to things
of greater value if you have a headache
practice not cursing don't curse every
time you have an earache and I'm not
saying that you can't complain only
don't complain with your whole being
voluntary hardship is one of the ways we
can build our self-discipline voluntary
hardship means constantly testing
ourselves and by making life routinely
uncomfortable in some way we're
hardening ourselves for the day we need
to live it for real a voluntary hardship
might be skipping a meal and going
hungry for a night having a cold shower
not smoking sleeping on the floor
leaving your jacket at home when you
know it's cold and raining out or
donating half of your clothes to charity
you could choose to go without social
media for a few days or throw your
smartphone in the draw do it often
enough and you begin to understand what
scarcity and hardship feels like and
that you can live with both if needed
number five practice dichotomy of
control Marcus Aurelius says you have
power over your mind not outside events
realize this and you will find strength
being distressed being bothered by Small
Things instantly is terrible for
discipline you have a goal you're
working and then thoughts and distress
about something external meaning it out
of your control derails you the best
thing you can do in these circumstances
is to apply epictetus's dichotomy of
control reinforce to yourself what's
within your control and what is out of
your control if you Embrace what's out
of your control and accept it you'll
experience Tranquility refer to the
following wording next time you're
distressed and distracted do you have a
problem in your life no then don't worry
yes can you do something about it yes
and don't worry no then don't worry
number six never play the victim
in the words of Marcus Aurelius do your
job without whining
have you said any of these I was just
born this way I'd never learned anything
different my parents set a terrible example
example
everyone else does it what are these
excuses that people use to justify
staying as they are instead of striving
to become better you need to assume
responsibility the why me mentality is
an enemy to mental toughness you might
not be at fault but your life depends on
you determining what's within your
control and taking those things into
your own hands you must train yourself
to frame these things this way instead
of immediately resorting to self-pity
it's certainly easier to Pawn off blame
on others when something goes wrong but
only those with a degree of mental
fortitude are able to step up even when
it's not their fault and right the ship
be that person who steps in to take
action not the one who looks the other
way and casts blame when you victimize
yourself or your current position you
relinquish control and absolve yourself
of personal responsibility and without a
sense of ownership meaningful progress
becomes an impossible task
number seven practice delayed
gratification in the words of Marcus
Aurelius so you are born to feel nice
instead of doing things and experiencing
them don't you see the plants the birds
the ants and spiders and bees going
about their individual tasks putting the
world in order as best they can and
you're not willing to do your job as a
human being why aren't you running to do
what your nature demands delayed
gratification involves the ability to
wait to get what you want imagine a
company Christmas party when you
encounter platters of delicious and
tempting food when you're trying to lose
weight if you give in and fill up your
plate with fattening goodies it might
derail your diet but you will get to
enjoy a bit of instant gratification if
you manage to resist and spend the
evening eating salad and munching on
carrot sticks then you'll presumably
receive an even greater reward down the
line shedding those unwanted pounds and
being able to fit into your favorite
pair of skinny jeans this ability to
resist temptation and stick to our goals
is often referred to as self-discipline
and delaying gratification is often seen
as a central part of this Behavior we
put off what we want now so that we can
perhaps get something else something
better later on
number eight ignore naysayers Marcus
Aurelius says when another blames you or
hates you or people voice similar
criticisms go to their souls penetrate
inside and see what sort of people they
are you will realize that there is no
need to be wrapped with anxiety that
they should hold any particular opinion
about you
whenever you step out from the norm and
declare even if only to yourself that
you believe you have a special purpose
in life and that you're going to do
whatever it takes to achieve it you will
attract naysayers naysayers are the
people who criticize object to or oppose
something the naysayers just love to say
nay they might love you but they're
afraid of progress so they're against
everything and their opinions are just
terrible for your self-discipline you
need to realize that allowing yourself
to be upset by the opinion of someone
you don't know or don't respect is as
foolish as getting upset about the
weather it's a waste of energy their
voice does not deserve to be heard don't
hand over your peace of mind to
Outsiders to disrupt as they please you
should actively seek honest feedback
from those you respect but if someone
just has a history of being a naysayer
ignore them number nine find wise people
to emulate
Marcus Aurelius says it'll even do to
socialize with men of good character in
order to model your life on theirs
whether you choose someone living or
someone from the past it's time now to
look outward for answers to help
strengthen your self-discipline
specifically let's identify Role Models
Your Role Model could be your friends
family or colleagues who've already
achieved a goal you're working towards
ask yourself who's doing this right now
who's successfully achieved this goal
who has successfully mastered this habit
who has successfully made this change
who has the necessary self-discipline in
this area and what can I learn from this
person that can help me along my journey
take time to ask these people how they
disciplined themselves ask them how they
followed through with specific actions
that got them their desired outcome then
use their experience to help you
discipline yourself along your own
personal Journey
number 10 honestly review your day in
the words of Marcus Aurelius these are
the characteristics of the rational Soul
self-awareness self-examination and
self-determination it reaps its own
Harvest it succeeds in its own purpose
one of the best ways to become more
disciplined is to scrutinize yourself
and find your weak spots be brutally
honest and use this time to connect with
your subconscious practicing evening
retrospections on a consistent basis
will allow you to become more self-aware
through every step of your day because
you will be actively gathering
information to formulate and articulate
constructive answers to these questions
ask yourself what did I do well today
where were my discipline and
self-control tested where did I do good
what did I do bad why did this occur and
furthermore how can I improve now you
know how you can improve tomorrow but
don't beat yourself up be like Seneca
and forgive yourself have some
self-compassion research shows that it's
forgiving yourself not beating yourself
up that prevents you from continuing to
put things off and don't just be
critical of yourself think about what
you did well so you can repeat it
tomorrow be grateful for the good that
happened today
if you like this video please do make
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