Everywhere and at all times, it is up to you to rejoice piously at what is occurring at the present moment, to conduct yourself with justice towards the people who are present here and now…
-Marcus Aurelius
For how much of your day are you present? The present moment is a gift. This perspective alone makes for a happier life. Gratitude is a greater starting point for living than desire. Being present means appreciating the now, right now.
Be healthy in word.
-Marcus Aurelius
How do you speak? Words really matter. Speaking is one of the simplest actions we can take on the path of manifesting our true selves. Make sure your words map to your deepest understanding of yourself and what makes you happy.
… if his companion be infected, he who converses with him will be infected likewise.
-Epictetus
Do you surround yourself with positive people? How do you impact those around you? It is inevitable that we all begin to resemble the people we spend the most time with and they also begin to resemble us. You can choose to be infected with negativity or positivity.
There always comes a time when one must choose between contemplation and action. This is called becoming.
– Albert Camus
Are you constantly planning? Talk is cheap, ideas are cheaper and there is no reality outside of what you do. Thinking and talking should be aimed at acting and creating. Take control of the present and stop planning for the future, just get busy.
All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning.
-Albert Camus
Do you dream too big? No, you don’t. If your vision doesn’t seem ridiculous, it’s too modest.
He who tries to travel two roads at once will arrive nowhere.
– Hsun Tzu
How are you decisive? Choosing one path inherently means that you are not taking many others. This is a reason to celebrate because this focus can be your freedom from distraction. Choosing to fully commit to a person, an idea or an action is the path to the greatest growth and happiness. You cannot be two places at once, embrace the moment and travel the road on which you currently stand as the person you currently are.
We think that by protecting ourselves from suffering we are being kind to ourselves. The truth is we only become more fearful, more hardened, and more alienated.
-Pema Chodron
How is your guard up? Suffering is a natural part of life. As such, walking alongside it while cultivating an understanding is more beneficial than simply ignoring it. You cannot learn from a teacher if you close your ears and eyes. Suffering can be meaningful if we do not protect ourselves from it, but instead, see it as a teacher.
Without giving up hope- that there’s somewhere better to be, that there’s someone better to be-we will never relax with where we are and who we are.
– Pema Chodron
Do you feel that the grass is always greener on the other side? You can only become who you envision by being who you are right now.
At Oran, as elsewhere, for lack of time and thinking, people have to love one another without knowing much about it.
-Albert Camus, The Plague
Why do you love the people and things that you love? Make time to think about your reasons for loving. Know about your love.
Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control.
-Epictetus
Do you compare yourself to others? Focus on what is in your control, your own actions and thoughts. Strive for perfection in all that is completely yours.
The Pocket Philosopher 