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Marcus Aurelius says “Waste no more time 
arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” 

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Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who lived 
from 121 to 180 AD and despite being an emperor,  

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Aurelius's contributions to philosophy, 
particularly Stoicism, have earned him  

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recognition throughout history. Stoicism is an 
ancient Greek philosophy that emphasizes personal  

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ethics and self-improvement. In his famous work 
"Meditations," Aurelius shares his personal  

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reflections on various aspects of life, offering 
insights into his daily routine and practices. 

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Aurelius believed that every day is an opportunity 
to live life to the fullest. He recognized the  

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brevity of life and encouraged people to make 
the most of every moment. His daily routine, as  

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outlined in his personal writings, offers valuable 
insights into achieving personal growth, inner  

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peace, and fulfillment. His writings have become a 
source of inspiration for many seeking to improve  

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their lives and make every day their best day.
Which is why in this video, we will discuss six  

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ways to make each day the best day of our life 
by following the routine of Marcus Aurelius.  

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By implementing his practices, we can strive 
towards a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

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Make the most of your mornings
Marcus Aurelius says "At dawn, when you  

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have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: 
'I have to go to work - as a human being. What do  

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I have to complain of, if I'm going to do what I 
was born for - the things I was brought into the  

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world to do? Or is this what I was created for? 
To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?'" 

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In his Meditations, Aurelius acknowledges his 
struggle with getting out of bed in the morning,  

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but he engages in an internal dialogue where he 
reminds himself that all of nature is constantly  

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at work - from the plants, to the birds, to 
the bees - fulfilling their innate purpose  

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to contribute to the world's evolution. As 
human beings, it is our duty to do the same,  

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regardless of our social status. Aurelius 
believed that starting each day with a  

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structured routine could help one achieve focus, 
productivity, and emotional stability and failing  

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to fulfill this obligation goes against 
the natural order of things. His morning  

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routine consisted of four steps, which 
are still applicable in our modern world:

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Appreciating Your Life
The first step in Aurelius'  

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morning routine was to appreciate the blessings 
in his life. He believed that taking a few moments  

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to reflect on what he was grateful for would 
help him maintain a positive outlook on life.  

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Aurelius recognized that life is fleeting, and 
we should cherish every moment we have. In our  

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modern world, we can practice gratitude by 
taking a few minutes each morning to reflect  

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on the things we are thankful for. This could be 
as simple as appreciating a good night's sleep or  

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the ability to spend time with loved ones. By 
focusing on the positive aspects of our lives,  

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we can start the day on a positive note and 
set the tone for a productive day ahead. 

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Negative Visualization
Negative visualization  

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involves imagining worst-case scenarios 
and mentally preparing oneself for them.  

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Aurelius believed that by preparing for the worst, 
he could better appreciate the good in his life  

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and avoid being overwhelmed by negative emotions 
in difficult situations. In our modern-day world,  

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negative visualization can help us 
prepare for challenges and adversity.  

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By mentally preparing for worst-case scenarios, 
we can better cope with unexpected events and  

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reduce anxiety and stress. This technique can also 
help us appreciate the good in our lives and avoid  

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taking things for granted.
Voluntary Hardship 

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Voluntary hardship involves deliberately exposing 
oneself to discomfort and challenges to build  

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resilience and self-discipline. Aurelius 
believed that by embracing difficulty,  

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he could become stronger and better prepared to 
face adversity. We can practice voluntary hardship  

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by taking on challenges that push us outside 
of our comfort zones. This could be as simple  

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as taking cold showers or waking up early to 
exercise. By embracing discomfort and challenges,  

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we can build resilience and self-discipline, which 
can help us succeed in all areas of our lives. 

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Start Your Most Important Task of the Day 

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The fourth and final step in Aurelius' morning 
routine was to start his most important task  

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of the day. Aurelius recognized that the 
early morning hours were the most productive  

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and focused time of the day. He believed that by 
tackling the most important task of the day first,  

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he could ensure that it was completed efficiently 
and effectively. Starting our most important task  

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of the day first can help us stay focused and 
productive. By prioritizing our most important  

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task and completing it early in the day, we can 
free up mental energy and avoid procrastination.  

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This can help us accomplish more and feel more 
accomplished at the end of the day. By following  

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these simple steps, we can improve our daily 
lives and achieve greater success in all areas.

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Stay focused 

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In the words of Marcus Aurelius “Concentrate 
every minute like a Roman - like a man - on doing  

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what's in front of you with precise and genuine 
seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice." 

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Aurelius recognized that distractions and 
interruptions are a natural part of life,  

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but encouraged individuals to develop the ability 
to stay focused on the task at hand in the face  

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of these challenges. He encouraged individuals 
to approach each task with a sense of dedication  

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and seriousness, concentrating every minute on 
the task at hand, with precision and genuine  

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commitment. By doing so, one could avoid becoming 
sidetracked by distractions, unwanted thoughts or  

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concerns, and achieve greater productivity 
and success. In today's fast-paced world,  

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where distractions are everywhere, it's easy to 
become sidetracked by short-term pleasures and  

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diversions. From social media notifications and 
emails to the constant bombardment of information  

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and entertainment, our minds are forever being 
pulled in different directions. To overcome  

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this challenge, it's important to develop 
the self-discipline and mindfulness needed  

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to stay focused on what truly matters.
This can be achieved through a variety  

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of strategies, such as by making a to-do list 
for the day and prioritizing your tasks based  

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on their importance. This will help you stay 
focused on the most important tasks and avoid  

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becoming distracted by less important ones. Once 
you prioritize the tasks, you can set specific,  

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achievable goals for each task, and focus on one 
goal at a time. This will help you stay motivated  

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and avoid becoming overwhelmed. You can turn 
off your phone, close unnecessary tabs on your  

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computer, and create a quiet environment that 
minimizes distractions. Throughout this process,  

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try to remain fully present in the moment while 
working on your task. Be aware of your thoughts  

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and emotions, and gently redirect your attention 
back to the task at hand if you become distracted.  

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By practicing these tips, you can develop 
the sense of dedication and seriousness  

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that Marcus Aurelius believed was essential 
for staying focused on the task at hand.

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Keep your mind in check
Marcus Aurelius tells us “You have  

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power over your mind - not outside events. 
Realize this, and you will find strength.” 

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Aurelius himself kept his mind in check with his 
Meditations, which were essentially his way of  

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commanding his mind. Throughout the meditations, 
we read things like: “The happiness of your life  

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depends upon the quality of your thoughts: 
therefore, guard accordingly, and take care  

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that you entertain no notion unsuitable to 
virtue and reasonable nature.” In essence,  

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these are the words of a man writing to remind 
himself to keep guard of his mind. Learning to  

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harness the power of the mind is key, rather than 
escaping from it or obeying all of its whims. 

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The mind can be thought of as a chaotic and 
powerful dragon that can either consume us or  

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be under our control. The best option is to learn 
how to tame this dragon, bring order to it, and  

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harness its power through mindfulness training.
Not being mindful can lead to negative thoughts,  

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stress, anxiety, depression, and self-destructive 
behaviors. Additionally, we may miss out on  

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experiencing the simple joys of life and forming 
meaningful connections with others, which is  

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detrimental because we're social by nature. 
According to stoicism, mindfulness training is one  

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of life's priorities. By focusing on the present 
moment and letting go of distractions and worries,  

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we can learn to be more present and attentive in 
our daily lives, make more intentional choices  

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about how we spend our time and energy, 
and achieve a deeper sense of purpose. 

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Mindfulness can take many forms, including 
focusing on your breath, journaling to examine  

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the contents of your mind, practicing daily 
activities with awareness, and incorporating  

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movement such as yoga, tai chi, or dancing to help 
center the mind and promote relaxation. Engaging  

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in artistic activities like painting, writing, 
or music can also help cultivate mindfulness. The  

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ultimate goal of all these practices is to achieve 
a level of mindfulness that allows you to gain  

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greater control over your thoughts and emotions 
and develop deeper insights into yourself. 

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Through mindfulness practice, we can increase 
our awareness of our thoughts and emotions,  

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identify triggers that lead to unhealthy 
behaviors, and develop healthier coping mechanisms  

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to manage them. For example, if you are trying to 
quit smoking, mindfulness can help you recognize  

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the passing thought or feeling of the urge to 
smoke and acknowledge it without acting on it.  

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You can observe the thought, acknowledge it, and 
let it go, rather than getting caught up in it  

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and giving in to the urge. Mindfulness can also 
help you identify triggers that lead to smoking,  

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such as stress or social situations, and 
develop healthier coping mechanisms to  

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manage them. By taking responsibility for 
your own thoughts and making an effort to  

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correct them, you can overcome your addiction 
to smoking and lead a healthier, happier life.

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Accept Your Fate and Love It
According to Marcus Aurelius  

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“Accept the things to which fate binds 
you (...) but do so with all your heart.” 

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Marcus believed in the concept of “dichotomy 
of control” and "amor fati". The dichotomy  

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of control refers to the distinction between 
what we can control and what we cannot. There  

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are many things in life that are beyond our 
control, such as the weather, traffic issues,  

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or the actions of other people. However, what we 
can control is our thoughts, words, and actions.  

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By focusing on what we can control 
and letting go of what we cannot,  

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we can reduce our stress and anxiety levels 
and increase our sense of empowerment. 

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For example, if you are going on a date and you 
are feeling nervous, you can focus on what you  

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can control. You can choose what to wear, how to 
style your hair, and what to say. You can control  

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your thoughts and emotions by reframing your 
nervousness as excitement and focusing on having  

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a good time. On the other hand, you cannot control 
how the other person will feel about you, whether  

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they will find you attractive or interesting, 
or whether they will want to see you again. By  

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accepting this lack of control, you can let go of 
your expectations and simply enjoy the experience. 

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Amor fati, or "lover of fate," is the idea that 
we should accept and embrace our fate, whatever  

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it may be. This means that we should not only 
accept the things that are outside of our control,  

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but we should actively love them as a part of our 
destiny. By embracing our fate, we can find peace  

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and contentment in the present moment, rather than 
worrying about the future or regretting the past. 

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For example, if you experience rejection in 
your dating life, you can choose to embrace  

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it as part of your fate. Instead of dwelling on 
your disappointment or feeling like a failure,  

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you can choose to see the rejection as a 
learning experience. You can reflect on  

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what you can control, such as improving your 
communication skills or expanding your social  

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circle, and take positive steps to improve 
yourself. By embracing your fate and taking  

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responsibility for your own growth, you can 
find meaning and purpose in your experiences. 

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In summary, the concepts of the dichotomy of 
control and amor fati can have a significant  

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impact on our lives if we apply them properly. 
By focusing our attention on what is within our  

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control, we can take positive action toward 
our goals and live a more fulfilling life.  

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At the same time, by accepting and embracing 
external events as part of our fate, we can find  

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peace and contentment in the present moment. It's 
important to remember that while we can't control  

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everything that happens to us, we can control how 
we respond to it. By adopting these principles, we  

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can learn to live with a greater sense of purpose 
and tranquility, even in the face of adversity.

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5. Review your day
Marcus Aurelius once  

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wrote “These are the characteristics of the 
rational soul: self-awareness, self-examination,  

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and self- determination. It reaps its own harvest. 
. . . It succeeds in its own purpose . . .” 

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In his book "Meditations," Marcus Aurelius 
recommended a practice known as "reviewing  

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your day" as a means of self-reflection and 
self-improvement. This practice involves  

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taking a few minutes at the end of each 
day to reflect on your actions, thoughts,  

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and emotions throughout the day, and to identify 
areas where you could have acted more virtuously. 

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Reviewing your day can be an effective way 
to gain greater self-awareness and cultivate  

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a more reflective and intentional approach to 
living. You can start practicing this by setting  

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aside a few minutes each evening to reflect on 
your day. This could be before you go to bed,  

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or at some other quiet time when 
you can focus without distractions.  

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Begin by asking yourself some open-ended questions 
about your day. For example, you might ask: 

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What did I do well today?
What could I have done better? 

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How did I treat others today?
What emotions did I experience  

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today, and how did I handle them?
Did I act in accordance with my values today? 

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After answering the questions, take a few minutes 
to reflect on your responses and identify areas  

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where you could have acted more virtuously 
or handled situations more effectively.  

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While being honest with yourself, also approach 
the exercise with compassion and understanding. 

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For example, let's say you had a disagreement 
with a colleague at work during the day,  

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and you felt like you didn't handle it as well as 
you could have. During your evening reflection,  

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you might identify this as an area where you 
could have acted more virtuously. You might  

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commit to approaching future disagreements with 
greater calm and objectivity, and to listening  

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more actively to your colleague's perspective. 
By implementing these actions in the days ahead,  

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you can improve your communication skills 
and strengthen your working relationships. 

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Through daily reflection, Aurelius believed 
that we can also develop a more positive  

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outlook on life, as we become more aware 
of the good things that happen each day,  

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and learn to appreciate them. This can 
help us to make every day our best day,  

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by focusing on the positive and working to 
improve ourselves in small, incremental ways.

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6. Practice Memento Mori 

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In our final quote from Marcus 
Aurelius for this video, he says,  

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“Do not act as if you were going to live ten 
thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you  

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live, while it is in your power, be good.”
Aurelius believed that death is just as  

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important as birth, and he held the view 
that we should recognize the inevitability  

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of death and appreciate the value of life 
in light of that awareness. He frequently  

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contemplated death in his writings, but 
never in a gloomy manner. For Marcus,  

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"Memento Mori," which is Latin for "Remember 
that you will die," was a celebration of life. 

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This phrase originated in ancient Rome, where 
it was used as a reminder for military leaders  

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to make the most of their time in power and avoid 
excessive pride, greed, and ambition. According to  

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ancient Roman tradition, a general who returned 
victorious had to parade through the streets,  

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joined by a slave who had the sole task 
of reminding him that his triumph was not  

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permanent. The slave would whisper "Memento mori" 
into the general's ear, serving as a reminder of  

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his mortality. Over time, the phrase has served 
as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life,  

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encouraging people to cherish each moment and live 
with purpose. The idea is to make a meaningful  

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impact in the world and not waste precious time 
on things that don't matter. To Marcus Aurelius,  

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“It is not death that a man should fear, 
but he should fear never beginning to live.” 

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However, in today's fast-paced and constantly 
connected world, it can be easy to forget  

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about the inevitability of death and the 
importance of living each day to the fullest.  

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People often get caught up in the grind of 
daily life and forget to take time to reflect  

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and appreciate what they have. The focus is often 
on acquiring material possessions and achieving  

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success, rather than leading a fulfilling 
and meaningful life. By incorporating the  

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principles of "Memento Mori" into our lives, we 
can cultivate a more purposeful and fulfilling  

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existence, one that is not driven by fear 
of death, but rather, a celebration of life. 

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To cultivate this attitude, you can daily meditate 
on your death by finding a quiet place where you  

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can sit comfortably and without distraction. Then, 
close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to  

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relax your body and mind. Reflect on the fact 
that death is inevitable and that you will die,  

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one day. Try to visualize yourself on your 
deathbed, and contemplate the feelings and  

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thoughts you might have in that moment. Consider 
the brevity of life and how precious each moment  

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is. Think about the things you would regret 
having not done if you were to die tomorrow. 

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For example, Imagine yourself in your thirties, 
obsessed with climbing the corporate ladder. You  

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now start meditating on your own death and you 
confront the transience of life and reevaluate  

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your priorities. Now you realized that success 
and material possessions were not the keys to  

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happiness. Following your realization, 
you decide to step back from your career  

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and embrace new experiences, including marriage 
and fatherhood, which you think will bring new  

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meaning to your life. By practicing meditation on 
death you learnt to live in the present moment and  

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prioritize the things that truly mattered, like 
love, family, and personal growth. This change  

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in perspective allows you to gain a newfound 
sense of purpose and fulfillment in life that  

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contemplating death has now opened up for you.
Use this contemplation as motivation to live in  

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accordance with your values and priorities, and 
to make the most of the time you have. Repeat  

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this practice daily for a few minutes. And, over 
time, it will become easier to accept the reality  

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of death and to live in the present moment with 
greater mindfulness and intentionality. Remember  

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that this practice is not meant to be morbid 
or depressing, but rather a way to cultivate  

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a deeper appreciation for life and a greater 
sense of purpose and meaning. "Memento Mori" is  

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essentially a call to live life to the fullest and 
embrace death with a happy smile. Meditating daily  

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on your death can help you have better days by 
bringing a sense of perspective and appreciation  

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for the present moment. For Aurelius, death was 
the ultimate freedom for the spirit. Therefore,  

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contemplating death in a manner that promotes 
a meaningful life is liberating to the spirit. 

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If you enjoyed this video, please make 
sure to check out our full philosophies  

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00:22:32,940 --> 00:22:37,320
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