1 00:00:00,799 --> 00:00:09,130 Marcus Aurelius says “The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” 2 00:00:09,130 --> 00:00:17,480 Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a very prominent figure within 3 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,030 the philosophy of Stoicism. 4 00:00:20,030 --> 00:00:26,109 At its core, Stoicism teaches us to distinguish between what we can and cannot control and 5 00:00:26,109 --> 00:00:32,450 encourages us to focus on what we can control, which is mainly our thoughts and actions, 6 00:00:32,450 --> 00:00:35,329 and accept what we cannot. 7 00:00:35,329 --> 00:00:40,710 This mindset shift is like putting on a mental armor that shields us from negative thoughts 8 00:00:40,710 --> 00:00:43,030 and unnecessary worries. 9 00:00:43,030 --> 00:00:48,780 By directing our attention to our thoughts and actions, Stoicism empowers us to actively 10 00:00:48,780 --> 00:00:52,239 shape our responses to life's challenges. 11 00:00:52,239 --> 00:00:58,750 It encourages us to find solutions and opportunities for growth, instead of getting overwhelmed 12 00:00:58,750 --> 00:01:01,660 by things beyond our control. 13 00:01:01,660 --> 00:01:07,909 Through Stoicism, we learn to view difficulties with a constructive mindset, turning adversity 14 00:01:07,909 --> 00:01:13,280 into a chance to learn, adapt, and emerge stronger. 15 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:19,100 During his rule, Aurelius found the time to construct a series of autobiographical writings, 16 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:22,049 now known as the Meditations. 17 00:01:22,049 --> 00:01:27,579 These Meditations have become some of the most important texts within stoic philosophy. 18 00:01:27,579 --> 00:01:33,369 And so, in this video we’ll talk about how to think positively from the philosophy of 19 00:01:33,369 --> 00:01:37,899 Marcus Aurelius. 20 00:01:37,899 --> 00:01:45,119 Realize The Importance Of Thought Aurelius says “It’s time you realize that 21 00:01:45,119 --> 00:01:50,549 you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you 22 00:01:50,549 --> 00:01:53,960 and make you dance like a puppet.” 23 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:59,490 Thinking is such a natural, expected, and constant activity that we often forget the 24 00:01:59,490 --> 00:02:01,990 power a thought can have. 25 00:02:01,990 --> 00:02:05,409 In other words: we take our thoughts for granted. 26 00:02:05,409 --> 00:02:11,900 Stoics, in contrast, place a lot of importance on the act of thinking and, even more importantly, 27 00:02:11,900 --> 00:02:14,970 being conscious of this act. 28 00:02:14,970 --> 00:02:19,690 According to Mr.Aurelius, your thoughts determine your life. 29 00:02:19,690 --> 00:02:24,019 Thoughts can paralyze and thoughts can inspire one to take action. 30 00:02:24,019 --> 00:02:27,530 Take, for example, fearful thoughts. 31 00:02:27,530 --> 00:02:30,879 Some people can get hung up on everything that could go wrong. 32 00:02:30,879 --> 00:02:36,600 This has an effect on their body - an increase in adrenaline, shaking, nervous breathing 33 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,390 - as well as their actions. 34 00:02:39,390 --> 00:02:44,590 Most likely, these kinds of thoughts and bodily feelings encourage someone to refrain from 35 00:02:44,590 --> 00:02:45,930 taking action. 36 00:02:45,930 --> 00:02:52,030 But now think of motivating thoughts: of someone who thinks of everything they could achieve 37 00:02:52,030 --> 00:02:57,450 if they take a certain action, who thinks of all that they have achieved in the past, 38 00:02:57,450 --> 00:03:01,610 and of all their capabilities and possibilities. 39 00:03:01,610 --> 00:03:07,459 This person might not only take action but also be motivated to work very hard on the 40 00:03:07,459 --> 00:03:10,049 actions they plan to take. 41 00:03:10,049 --> 00:03:16,629 These are two extremes with the very same basis: a thought. 42 00:03:16,629 --> 00:03:21,090 Those who never really consider what they are thinking often don’t know what it is 43 00:03:21,090 --> 00:03:23,379 that’s holding them back. 44 00:03:23,379 --> 00:03:28,549 To truly get to know yourself and reach your highest potential in life, it’s crucial 45 00:03:28,549 --> 00:03:32,780 to pause and consider what thoughts you have. 46 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:38,420 Stoics spend a lot of time examining what goes on in their head by way of meditation, 47 00:03:38,420 --> 00:03:39,940 reflection, or journaling. 48 00:03:39,940 --> 00:03:47,349 For example, a very well-known Stoic tradition is the ‘Evening Reflection’: spend a fixed 49 00:03:47,349 --> 00:03:52,690 amount of time in the evening to contemplate what you’ve thought that day, what effect 50 00:03:52,690 --> 00:03:57,560 your thoughts had on you, and what kind of worldviews they represent. 51 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:03,060 By doing so, you know exactly what kind of thoughts are helping you move forward in life, 52 00:04:03,060 --> 00:04:06,310 and what kind of thoughts are holding you back. 53 00:04:06,310 --> 00:04:11,600 You can’t change anything before you know what it is that needs to change - and thus, 54 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:18,799 examining your thoughts is the very first step to changing your life. 55 00:04:18,799 --> 00:04:24,770 Learn To Transform Your Thoughts To quote Aurelius “Here is a rule to remember 56 00:04:24,770 --> 00:04:32,350 in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not "This is misfortune," but "To 57 00:04:32,350 --> 00:04:34,960 bear this worthily is good fortune.” 58 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:41,900 Our thoughts - especially the spontaneous ones - are loaded with value-judgements and 59 00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:42,900 conclusions. 60 00:04:42,900 --> 00:04:49,729 We automatically judge anything we come across or think about: is it fun, boring, beautiful, 61 00:04:49,729 --> 00:04:52,030 ugly, successful, a failure? 62 00:04:52,030 --> 00:04:56,090 Are we satisfied with our life, or unsatisfied? 63 00:04:56,090 --> 00:04:59,120 Is our plan a good or bad idea? 64 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:05,650 This way of thinking might seem logical and helpful but can, in fact, be very damaging. 65 00:05:05,650 --> 00:05:12,540 Oftentimes, one thinks that their judgments are based on facts, but this is rarely true. 66 00:05:12,540 --> 00:05:18,419 You rarely have all the facts, and the way you assess those facts you do have is tainted 67 00:05:18,419 --> 00:05:20,680 by emotions and bias. 68 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:26,110 Generally, your thoughts are not shaped by reality but by your perception of it. 69 00:05:26,110 --> 00:05:32,150 And if you change your perception and consequently your thoughts - you can truly change your 70 00:05:32,150 --> 00:05:33,530 life. 71 00:05:33,530 --> 00:05:37,550 As soon as you’ve judged something negatively - in other words, have a negative thought 72 00:05:37,550 --> 00:05:41,990 about something - it’s hard to act despite that thought. 73 00:05:41,990 --> 00:05:46,800 For example, if halfway through the day you have a thought about this being an ‘awful’ 74 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:51,280 day, you quickly lose the motivation to make the day better. 75 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:55,259 If you’ve deemed a person ‘annoying’, you won’t try to build a relationship with 76 00:05:55,259 --> 00:05:56,470 them anymore. 77 00:05:56,470 --> 00:06:01,990 Moreover, you might even linger on these kinds of thoughts and have them become recurring 78 00:06:01,990 --> 00:06:02,990 complaints. 79 00:06:02,990 --> 00:06:08,250 But ‘having an awful day’ might be a conclusion you draw after you have a bad interaction 80 00:06:08,250 --> 00:06:14,800 with your boss, which was in reality only a fraction of your whole day. 81 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,310 And you could deem a person ‘annoying’ after having met them twice and barely knowing 82 00:06:19,310 --> 00:06:21,069 anything about them. 83 00:06:21,069 --> 00:06:27,889 The conclusions you draw are too quick and not well-considered, but they get stuck. 84 00:06:27,889 --> 00:06:33,600 And the worst, most harmful part of having those kinds of thoughts, is the way they influence 85 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,949 the actions you take. 86 00:06:35,949 --> 00:06:41,500 Not only do they prevent you from taking positive action, they can also cause you to take negative 87 00:06:41,500 --> 00:06:44,440 action - such as complaining. 88 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:50,210 Most people who complain go too far with it: they spend so much of their valuable energy 89 00:06:50,210 --> 00:06:55,290 on complaining that there’s even less energy left to take positive action. 90 00:06:55,290 --> 00:07:01,000 Other examples of negative actions are actively avoiding people or situations. 91 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:07,400 To stop sabotaging yourself in this way, you need to learn how to transform your thoughts. 92 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:12,700 You might not be able to stop thinking negatively - after a talking-to from your boss, ‘this 93 00:07:12,700 --> 00:07:17,740 is an awful day’ is a thought that could just pop up in your head spontaneously - but 94 00:07:17,740 --> 00:07:21,530 you can ‘undo’ this negative judgment. 95 00:07:21,530 --> 00:07:26,699 Frequent complainers have a habit of accepting a thought as ‘true’ immediately after 96 00:07:26,699 --> 00:07:31,599 having it and then engaging with its negativity even more as a result. 97 00:07:31,599 --> 00:07:37,910 But those with a positive mindset, those who take positive action, have cultivated a habit 98 00:07:37,910 --> 00:07:41,169 of challenging their thoughts. 99 00:07:41,169 --> 00:07:44,400 Challenging a thought can be done as a reflection. 100 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:49,000 After having a thought, you could spend some time reflecting on it - whether that’s immediately 101 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:54,009 after, or later in the day when you find a moment to yourself. 102 00:07:54,009 --> 00:07:59,490 During this reflection, you can ask yourself questions: was my thought reasonable? 103 00:07:59,490 --> 00:08:04,510 Did I feel any strong emotions at the time that could have affected my judgment? 104 00:08:04,510 --> 00:08:06,599 Was my thought helpful? 105 00:08:06,599 --> 00:08:10,940 ‘This is an awful day’ might not be a reasonable thought. 106 00:08:10,940 --> 00:08:14,390 Maybe your day went fine, except for five minutes. 107 00:08:14,390 --> 00:08:20,870 In that case, you might say: ‘This was a bad moment, but my day is still good.’ 108 00:08:20,870 --> 00:08:27,740 But maybe your day has been disappointment after disappointment - it is, reasonably considered, 109 00:08:27,740 --> 00:08:29,699 an awful day. 110 00:08:29,699 --> 00:08:34,390 Then you should ask yourself: what emotions influenced this thought? 111 00:08:34,390 --> 00:08:39,589 Maybe the disappointments would usually not get you down, but on this particular day you’re 112 00:08:39,589 --> 00:08:43,320 not feeling so great and you can’t handle them as well. 113 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:48,529 If that’s the case, you might transform your thought into: ‘I am a little sensitive 114 00:08:48,529 --> 00:08:52,500 today, so this isn’t as bad as it feels. 115 00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:55,839 Soon I will feel fine again.’ 116 00:08:55,839 --> 00:09:02,690 And the final question is often the most transforming one: was your thought helpful? 117 00:09:02,690 --> 00:09:08,920 Even if it is true that your day was reasonably, objectively bad - this is not a useful judgment. 118 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,990 It’s a paralyzing one. 119 00:09:11,990 --> 00:09:14,910 So what would be a useful thought, instead? 120 00:09:14,910 --> 00:09:20,240 ‘I now have an opportunity to make this day - or the next day - better.’ 121 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:24,240 Or: ‘How can I prevent these things from happening again?’ 122 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:28,720 Or: ‘What can I learn from these negative circumstances?’ 123 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:34,130 The answer to most of these questions leads to a certain positive action. 124 00:09:34,130 --> 00:09:39,660 A good way to practice your ability to reflect and transform your thoughts is the following 125 00:09:39,660 --> 00:09:45,570 exercise: for a day or two, try to interpret everything that happens to you as positive 126 00:09:45,570 --> 00:09:46,570 first. 127 00:09:46,570 --> 00:09:52,160 For example, if someone insults you, think to yourself: “Being insulted like this can 128 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:56,840 make me a stronger, more confident and unapologetic person.” 129 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,779 You’re not always going to be successful in this, but that’s fine. 130 00:10:00,779 --> 00:10:03,660 It’s about building a habit. 131 00:10:03,660 --> 00:10:09,250 As long as you realize that transformation, not complaining, is the end goal, you’ll 132 00:10:09,250 --> 00:10:13,800 find that you might be able to put positive thoughts into action. 133 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:19,940 So resist the urge to complain and make it a habit to challenge and thus transform your 134 00:10:19,940 --> 00:10:20,940 thoughts. 135 00:10:20,940 --> 00:10:24,400 There is always something useful to be found in them. 136 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:31,950 Marcus Aurelius called this: ‘Turning the obstacle upside down. 137 00:10:31,950 --> 00:10:38,490 Practice Premeditatio Malorum Aurelius advises us “When you wake up in 138 00:10:38,490 --> 00:10:46,720 the morning, tell yourself: the people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, 139 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:53,550 dishonest, jealous and surly” "Premeditatio Malorum" translated as "premeditation 140 00:10:53,550 --> 00:10:59,490 of evils" or "anticipation of adversity”, is a Stoic exercise that involves thinking 141 00:10:59,490 --> 00:11:02,950 ahead and preparing for potential challenges. 142 00:11:02,950 --> 00:11:08,360 Marcus Aurelius, a practitioner of this exercise, deliberately considered possible setbacks 143 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:09,980 each morning. 144 00:11:09,980 --> 00:11:16,880 While this might seem unusual, it became a powerful tool for fostering his positive thinking. 145 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:22,389 Instead of being surprised by problems, he started each day knowing there might be difficulties 146 00:11:22,389 --> 00:11:28,490 and by mentally preparing for such challenges, he was prepared to handle whatever came before 147 00:11:28,490 --> 00:11:29,490 him. 148 00:11:29,490 --> 00:11:34,930 He faced them calmly and flexibly, which not only helped him handle worries but also made 149 00:11:34,930 --> 00:11:39,160 him stronger and more prepared for challenges. 150 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:45,590 Stoicism's approach to this negative visualizing can be compared to a sturdy oak tree in a 151 00:11:45,590 --> 00:11:46,630 storm. 152 00:11:46,630 --> 00:11:52,139 Problems and challenges are like strong winds and rain, but Stoicism teaches us to stand 153 00:11:52,139 --> 00:11:56,560 strong and resilient instead of breaking easily. 154 00:11:56,560 --> 00:12:01,870 In our modern world, this means not letting tough times crush us completely. 155 00:12:01,870 --> 00:12:06,760 It's like checking the weather forecast for your life by imagining potential problems 156 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:11,880 and preparing mentally, just like an oak tree strengthens its roots. 157 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:18,700 This doesn't mean becoming pessimistic; instead, it's about being realistic and ready. 158 00:12:18,700 --> 00:12:24,280 Imagine planning a big picnic with friends, and you are responsible for bringing the food. 159 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,910 Applying Stoicism in this situation means thinking about what could go wrong before 160 00:12:28,910 --> 00:12:31,660 the picnic day arrives. 161 00:12:31,660 --> 00:12:36,560 Considering possible challenges, like the weather turning rainy or dietary restrictions, 162 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:42,140 is like packing an extra umbrella and planning a menu that accommodates everyone's needs. 163 00:12:42,140 --> 00:12:47,900 In the modern world, Stoicism helps us become savvy event planners, ready for unexpected 164 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:49,339 hiccups. 165 00:12:49,339 --> 00:12:54,430 When the actual picnic day comes, we're better prepared for surprises, like a sudden rain 166 00:12:54,430 --> 00:12:58,269 shower or last-minute dietary requests. 167 00:12:58,269 --> 00:13:04,029 Ultimately, Stoicism encourages us to be like that resilient oak tree, standing tall in 168 00:13:04,029 --> 00:13:06,720 the face of life's storms. 169 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:13,100 It promotes a mindset that embraces challenges with strength and adaptability, ensuring we're 170 00:13:13,100 --> 00:13:18,480 better prepared to weather the storms that life may bring. 171 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:25,019 Live In The Present In the words of Marcus Aurelius “Give yourself 172 00:13:25,019 --> 00:13:29,070 a gift: the present moment.” 173 00:13:29,070 --> 00:13:33,959 Imagine having a thought or an idea that inspires you to take action. 174 00:13:33,959 --> 00:13:38,430 You know what you want to do, why you want to do it, how you want to do it, and have 175 00:13:38,430 --> 00:13:41,180 confident thoughts regarding this. 176 00:13:41,180 --> 00:13:46,070 You have everything you need - or so you think. 177 00:13:46,070 --> 00:13:49,769 But then you start considering the future. 178 00:13:49,769 --> 00:13:55,100 And suddenly, while considering the giant realm of possibilities that the future represents, 179 00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:57,769 you get anxious. 180 00:13:57,769 --> 00:14:01,910 Imagine you want to go back to college to retrain yourself for a different field of 181 00:14:01,910 --> 00:14:02,910 work. 182 00:14:02,910 --> 00:14:08,480 You have the inspiration and confidence - but then comes the ‘what ifs.’ 183 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,380 What if I struggle to balance work, family, and studying? 184 00:14:12,380 --> 00:14:16,110 What if I'm not as successful in this new field as I hope to be? 185 00:14:16,110 --> 00:14:20,140 What if I regret leaving my current job to go back to college? 186 00:14:20,140 --> 00:14:25,080 What if I face health issues or other personal challenges during my studies? 187 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:29,949 While engaging in negative visualization and preparing for potential challenges can be 188 00:14:29,949 --> 00:14:36,949 beneficial, consistently being anxious about the future and overly compensating is definitely 189 00:14:36,949 --> 00:14:38,050 not. 190 00:14:38,050 --> 00:14:42,050 Alternatively, you can get stuck in the past. 191 00:14:42,050 --> 00:14:46,829 Suddenly you’re thinking about the last time you went to college, how hard it was, 192 00:14:46,829 --> 00:14:52,940 and how you dropped out… and gradually you feel your confidence vanish. 193 00:14:52,940 --> 00:14:56,519 The future and past are tricky subjects to think about. 194 00:14:56,519 --> 00:15:02,240 Of course, it’s smart to plan for the future, and it’s a good idea to consider the past 195 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:08,080 to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again - but most people go too far with 196 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,370 both of these practices. 197 00:15:10,370 --> 00:15:15,480 The past is over, and the future is absolutely unknowable. 198 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:20,470 The future has infinite possibilities and the effects of the past in the present is 199 00:15:20,470 --> 00:15:23,690 impossible to completely accurately determine. 200 00:15:23,690 --> 00:15:29,690 Thus to have these two concepts significantly impact your present is a gamble at best, and 201 00:15:29,690 --> 00:15:33,389 a complete disaster at worst. 202 00:15:33,389 --> 00:15:38,779 Just like value-judgements and quick conclusions, your perception of the past and future are 203 00:15:38,779 --> 00:15:42,320 loaded with emotion and bias. 204 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:47,420 Marcus Aurelius believed that those who live in the past or future - by spending most of 205 00:15:47,420 --> 00:15:53,389 their time and energy thinking about that - don’t truly live at all. 206 00:15:53,389 --> 00:15:59,180 Holding onto the past will prevent you from growing and improving yourself and your life. 207 00:15:59,180 --> 00:16:04,120 Obsessing over the future can either scare you into passivity or encourage you to take 208 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:09,370 all kinds of precautions and actions that, aside from not being guaranteed to work out, 209 00:16:09,370 --> 00:16:12,120 are at the expense of your current life. 210 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:17,399 In other words: thoughts about the future or past can paralyze you, which renders you 211 00:16:17,399 --> 00:16:22,870 incapable of action, or causes you to take suboptimal action. 212 00:16:22,870 --> 00:16:29,149 A good way to focus on the present is to question yourself, again by practicing reflection - how 213 00:16:29,149 --> 00:16:32,790 many times did you think about the past or future today? 214 00:16:32,790 --> 00:16:39,029 Were those times helpful or did they increase your doubts, worries, or unhappiness? 215 00:16:39,029 --> 00:16:42,709 If so, how can you let go of them quicker next time? 216 00:16:42,709 --> 00:16:48,370 Another way to learn how to focus on the present is by meditation - observe all your thoughts 217 00:16:48,370 --> 00:16:53,699 about the past and future as they come by, but then let them go. 218 00:16:53,699 --> 00:17:00,240 By learning how to focus on the present, you learn how to take action. 219 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:06,380 Practice Gratitude In our final quote from Marcus Aurleius for 220 00:17:06,380 --> 00:17:12,949 this video, he says “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege 221 00:17:12,949 --> 00:17:21,240 it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love”. 222 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,400 Even though Marcus Aurelius spent a lot of time dealing with battles and leading the 223 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:31,620 Roman Empire, he really appreciated the simple fact of being alive. 224 00:17:31,620 --> 00:17:39,410 He found comfort in realizing how special each new day was.For him, each day is a gift 225 00:17:39,410 --> 00:17:42,120 not to be taken lightly. 226 00:17:42,120 --> 00:17:48,270 Waking up each morning felt like getting another opportunity, a continuation of life's journey, 227 00:17:48,270 --> 00:17:51,660 and a chance to face the challenges of the day. 228 00:17:51,660 --> 00:17:56,320 The emperor's appreciation for the morning was not merely a superficial acknowledgment 229 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:02,419 of the rising sun but a profound recognition of the resilience of life itself. 230 00:18:02,419 --> 00:18:08,039 It reflected his Stoic philosophy, emphasizing the acceptance of the present moment and an 231 00:18:08,039 --> 00:18:13,340 understanding that life unfolds in accordance with nature. 232 00:18:13,340 --> 00:18:17,690 Cultivating gratitude offers a powerful tool to reshape our thinking. 233 00:18:17,690 --> 00:18:24,380 By consciously practicing gratitude, we redirect our attention from what we lack to appreciating 234 00:18:24,380 --> 00:18:27,020 the abundance in our lives. 235 00:18:27,020 --> 00:18:33,610 This transformation goes beyond mere thankfulness; it deepens our awareness of the positive aspects 236 00:18:33,610 --> 00:18:35,680 within our daily experiences. 237 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:42,090 For instance, when navigating a challenging work situation, deliberately expressing gratitude 238 00:18:42,090 --> 00:18:47,780 for the chance to learn and grow from the difficulty can change our perspective. 239 00:18:47,780 --> 00:18:52,920 When things don't go well, being thankful for what you've learned instead of focusing 240 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:57,570 on mistakes can make you feel stronger and more positive. 241 00:18:57,570 --> 00:19:04,059 This practice urges us to recognize the fleeting nature of external events and find contentment 242 00:19:04,059 --> 00:19:06,000 in the present moment. 243 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:11,530 A simple yet impactful practice is embracing the present moment and accepting it without 244 00:19:11,530 --> 00:19:12,780 unnecessary resistance. 245 00:19:12,780 --> 00:19:19,450 This involves acknowledging reality as it is, rather than how we wish it to be. 246 00:19:19,450 --> 00:19:25,240 Think of it like this: Imagine you have a plan, like doing well at school or work, but 247 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:28,590 things don't always go exactly as you want. 248 00:19:28,590 --> 00:19:33,730 Instead of getting upset or frustrated when things don't go your way, Stoicism says it's 249 00:19:33,730 --> 00:19:39,150 better to accept what's happening right now, even if it's not what you expected. 250 00:19:39,150 --> 00:19:44,350 This doesn't mean you give up on your goals, but you stop wasting energy being mad about 251 00:19:44,350 --> 00:19:46,520 the things you can't change. 252 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:54,410 The Stoic idea is to not just accept the present, but to actually like it and be okay with it. 253 00:19:54,410 --> 00:19:58,760 They call this "Amor Fati," or loving your fate. 254 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:05,039 So, if you have a tough day at work or school, instead of wishing it was different, Stoicism 255 00:20:05,039 --> 00:20:11,809 suggests embracing it, finding something good in it, and using your energy to handle challenges 256 00:20:11,809 --> 00:20:14,190 in a positive way. 257 00:20:14,190 --> 00:20:20,100 This way, you can be more content and calm, focusing on what you can control, and not 258 00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:24,310 letting things you can't bother you too much. 259 00:20:24,310 --> 00:20:29,429 Another simple yet impactful practice is keeping a gratitude journal. 260 00:20:29,429 --> 00:20:34,700 Each day, take a few moments to reflect on and write down three things you are grateful 261 00:20:34,700 --> 00:20:35,700 for. 262 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:40,309 These can range from significant achievements to small, everyday pleasures. 263 00:20:40,309 --> 00:20:45,690 By consistently engaging in this practice, you develop a habit of actively seeking and 264 00:20:45,690 --> 00:20:51,559 recognizing positive aspects in your life, focusing on the present and appreciating what 265 00:20:51,559 --> 00:20:53,240 you have. 266 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:57,930 Another daily gratitude practice is expressing appreciation to others. 267 00:20:57,930 --> 00:21:03,470 Take the time to communicate your gratitude to friends, family, or colleagues. 268 00:21:03,470 --> 00:21:09,190 This not only strengthens your relationships but also reinforces your ability to recognize 269 00:21:09,190 --> 00:21:14,770 the interconnectedness of individuals and the contributions they make to your life. 270 00:21:14,770 --> 00:21:20,470 Stoicism, with its emphasis on virtue and wisdom, aligns with the idea that genuine 271 00:21:20,470 --> 00:21:27,190 gratitude involves recognizing the interconnectedness of one's experiences and the contributions 272 00:21:27,190 --> 00:21:28,630 of others. 273 00:21:28,630 --> 00:21:35,450 So, by being grateful, you not only change how you think but also see life as a shared 274 00:21:35,450 --> 00:21:42,190 journey where everyone contributes something valuable. 275 00:21:42,190 --> 00:21:46,080 If you enjoyed this video, please make sure to check out our full philosophies for life 276 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:51,710 playlist and for more videos to help you find success and happiness using beautiful philosophical 277 00:21:51,710 --> 00:21:55,090 wisdom, don’t forget to subscribe. 278 00:21:55,090 --> 00:21:57,090 Thanks so much for watching.