Morning Reflections with Marcus Aurelius
In the quiet serenity of dawn, when the first rays of the sun caress our faces and the gentle breeze caresses our skin, we plunge into the depths of introspection, guided by the wise words of the philosopher emperor, Marcus Aurelius. It is in this moment of stillness and reflection that we repeat his words with devotion:
"When you wake up in the morning, repeat to yourself: The people I deal with today will be nosy, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and sullen."
These words resonate in the soul, reminding us of the truth inherent in the human condition: we are imperfect, prone to failure, to stumble in our weaknesses, and to fall victim to our darkest impulses.
Marcus Aurelius urges us to recognize this reality with crystal clarity, to accept it with humility, and to embrace it with compassion. The people we will encounter along the way may be a reflection of our own internal struggles, an amalgam of virtues and flaws that form the complex tapestry of human experience.
"They're like that because they can't tell right from wrong."
In these words, we perceive an invitation to empathy, to look beyond superficial actions and into the hearts of those around us. By acknowledging that, like us, those immersed in a constant search for meaning and purpose, we always end up navigating the turbulent waters of existence in search of that light to guide our path.
"But I have seen the beauty of good and the ugliness of evil, and I have recognized that the evildoer has a nature related to mine, not of the same blood or birth, but of the same mind and possessor of a part of the divine."
His words resonate with a profound and transcendental truth. In every human being lies a spark of the divine, a sacred connection that binds us together in our shared humanity. Acknowledging this essential connection frees us from the yoke of judgment and allows us to embrace our fellow human beings with compassion and understanding.
"And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. I also can't feel angry with my relative or hate him."
Notice as in the previous paragraph, we find a powerful reminder of our own inner strength. By acknowledging our ability to transcend the actions of others and find peace within ourselves, we free ourselves from the never-ending cycle of resentment and bitterness.
"We were born to work together as feet, hands and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. Obstructing each other is unnatural. To feel anger against someone, to turn one's back on them: these are obstructions."
This timeless truth resonates vehemently: we are meant to collaborate, to support each other on our journey through life. Division and conflict only take us away from our true nature, preventing us from reaching our highest potential as individuals and as a society.
At the end of this morning journey through the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, we imbue ourselves with a deep sense of calm and clarity. His words have lit the way for us, reminding us of the importance of embracing humanity in all its complexity and cultivating compassion and understanding in every interaction.
With these morning reflections, we are inspired to embrace the imperfect humanity around us, to find beauty in diversity, and to cultivate peace within ourselves and in the world we share.
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Quote: Book 2, verse 1 in "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius:
1 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. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own-not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work together like feet, hands, and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions.
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