Meditations, Marcus Aurelius, Refinement and Me July 27, 2020

Refinement from the ages will surely follow

“To live one’s life in the best way: the power to do this resides within our soul, if we are capable of being indifferent to indifferent things.” "Concentrate every moment like a Roman - like a man..." When words are spoken and written, after a thousand years their merit and value is clear. Some of that wisdom should become a part of us.
I'm reading Meditations and was struck by this offering early in my read, "Concentrate every minute like a Roman — like a man — on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice. And on freeing yourself from all other distractions. Yes you can — if you were doing everything as if you were doing everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life, and stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centred, irritable. You see how few things you have to do to live a satisfying and reverent life? If you can manage this, that’s all even the gods can ask of you."
Marcus Aurelius was one of the most respected emperors in Roman history who was born into a wealthy and prominent family. I believe his written account and life's statements will benefit this writer.
"Treat yourself with respect because if you don't you have entrusted your own happiness to the souls of others." Among other issues does this mean that addiction to alcohol and drugs has delivered addicts to others in their search for happiness?

I receive writings from Medium.com and this morning there appeared an article referring to Marcus Aurelius' writings in Meditations that I include here. The more I read the more I see the transfer of information from one being to another. Marcus writes, "For this will bring not only the contentment of mind that comes from acting right, but also that which comes from doing little; for considering that the majority of our words and actions are anything but necessary, if a person dispenses with them he will have greater leisure and a less troubled mind." Some of us might read this and think that what is top of mind, such as that which I am thinking of saying or doing is unnecessary or unproductive. I think he is saying that if you say or do that which really means something to one's self then contentment and fulfilment will surely follow. That makes sense to me; in another post I wrote that speaking the truth in every case can often be hurtful for the speaker as well as the listener in some cases. 

Another of Aurelius' musings if you agree is this one: "Live In The Present Moment." For more than a year that has been a constant for me, as well as a reply when asked what I was thinking, or wanted during some future time, as well as what had taken place in the past. You did not worry about being around in 1841, why worry if you are not around in 2041? Is it acceptable to not dwell on the past nor be concerned with the future? Is it acceptable to not replay your mistakes over and over, to learn to walk out of that movie? You cannot change the past but you can change your perception of it.

"To speak to anyone use the right tone without being overbearing. To choose the right words." Just imagine how others would see us if we practiced and perfected this statement by Marcus Aurelius. Moreover, how we see ourselves controlling our tone and words making our utterances crystal-clear and in our best interest as well as others.

I'll close this post with another Marcusian statement found on page 104 of this amazing little book:

"If it's in your control, why do you do it? If it's in someone else's, then who are you blaming? Atoms? The gods? Stupid either way. Blame no one. 

Set people straight, if you can. If not, just repair the damage. And suppose you can't do either. Then where does blaming people get you? No pointless actions."

Does this resonate? Does anything written by Marcus Aurelius cause me to think, and sometimes cause my actions to differ from previous? It does. Why? Because I am searching for ways to refinement. There are many, too many to count, and too many to make my own over a lifetime which is, after all so very short. I am in Refinement, Marcus Aurelius, as well as meetings with old and new friends listening for words of meaningful advice and counsel. Listening and understanding the fundamentals and foundational aspects of an idea or action are paramount.

I'll close this post with these seemingly desultory comments: Elon Musk (Tesla, PayPal) never learns a piece of information at random. Everything he intakes, he connects back to some deeper, solid base of his knowledge of the matter at hand. Henry Ford who changed how cars were made early in the 20th Century said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Elon Musk took Henry's thought and built this 21st Century all-electric beauty and sells it for $150,000.00