MINDSET - Control
Lately, I’ve been reading ‘Meditations’ by Marcus Aurelius. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. If you don’t know, Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor and a Stoic. Stoic’s believed in virtue and are seen as very serious individuals with an ability to endure pain and struggle with great patience.
For many Stoics, the key was in the ability to control the mind. It was critical to understand that your mindset shouldn’t be controlled by your circumstances or surroundings. In fact, Marcus Aurelius, said this
“stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centered, and irritable.”
In other words. You need to control your mind.
Yet, you and I know that is easier said than done. Too often, we allow our emotions, circumstances, the news, sports, politics, our families, friends, health, and even strangers dictate our mindset. We fail to realize just how important it is for us to rein in our mind. Marcus Aurelius goes on to say this as well,
“Stop allowing your mind to be a slave, to be jerked about by selfish impulses, to kick against fate and the present, and to mistrust the future.”
When our mind is slave to our circumstances it’s easy to feel dark about the future. It’s easy to find ourselves anxious and worried when we let our mind wander and aimlessly venture into the “what if’s” of life. Controlling our mind requires discipline, intentionality, and surrounding ourselves with the best people. If you live in a world where everyone and everything is negative, it is easy to move in the same direction, to see the world as hopeless and lost. Yet, choosing to surround ourselves with positive, uplifting people has the ability to move us in the same direction.
There are ways to control your mindset. There are disciplines and hacks that allow you to see the world from a different perspective. Choose the best for your mind. Choose to move past the emotional swings, fear, anxiety, and away from negative people.
A healthy mind allows you to not just survive the obstacles of life but enables you to overcome the most difficult moments. Choose the BEST!!!