4 Rules for a Better Life from the Stoic Triad. Epictetus the teacher, Seneca the writer, and Marcus Aurelius the emperor.

The Stoics lived two thousand years ago, but their wisdom feels tailor-made for today’s distractions.

They taught that peace doesn’t come from controlling the world; it comes from mastering our thoughts and actions.

The Stoic principles are a perfect example of the Lindy effect — the longer something has stayed relevant, the longer it’s likely to remain so.

1. Focus on the Essential

Marcus believed this was the key to being productive and happy.

“If you seek tranquillity, do less.” Not nothing. Less. Do only what’s truly important.

2. Don’t Waste Time Worrying About Other People’s Opinions

We are generally selfish people, yet more than ourselves we value other peoples opinion about us.

“It never ceases to amaze me that we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”

What others think is outside our control and therefore, not worth our worry.

3. Don’t Suffer Imagined Troubles

"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality."

“A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.”

4. Do the Right Thing

“If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it.”

Remember -

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”

That is it for today.

Take it easy until next time.

Blogging is something I enjoy, and I share my thoughts on my blog most weekends. Explore all my blogs at https://lnkd.in/ejq7CWaQ.

Views are my own.

Blogging is something I enjoy, and I share my thoughts on my blog most weekends.

Read all my “Notes to Self” at view all blogs.