Meditations Summary 

- Book by Marcus Aurelius

Meditations summary at a glance:

1. Meditation is a collection of 12 books written by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who’ll introduce you to Stoic philosophy.

2. Marcus Aurelius was simply writing these notes of wisdom to himself in his private journal. His intention was not to publish anything; rather, he used his journal to remind himself of the lessons he learned throughout his life. So, you’re reading a private journal of an emperor!

3. “Your mind will be like its habitual thoughts; for the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts. Soak it then in such trains of thoughts as, for example: Where life is possible at all, a right life is possible.”

1. Live every moment of your life as a gift.

2. Never confuse yourself by visions of an entire lifetime at once.

3. Everything happens for a reason and it happens at the perfect time.

4. “Everything - a horse, a vine - is created for some duty… For what task, then, were you yourself created? A man’s true delight is to do the things he was made for.” So, find your purpose in life.

5. “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

“Take it that you have died today, and your life’s story is ended; and henceforward regard what future time may be given you as an uncovenanted surplus, and live it out in harmony with nature.”

Imagine that you just died, and after you’re gone you got a second chance to come back to life!

How would you live your life from now on?! Start now living every single moment as a gift.

“Never confuse yourself by visions of an entire lifetime at once… remember that it is not the weight of the future or the past that is pressing upon you, but ever that of the present alone.”

Marcus Aurelius reminds us: What really matters is THIS moment. And that’s true.

Actually, sometimes I really get overwhelmed by thinking about all my plans at once!

Yes, we should have a vision and set long-term plans for our life, but we also should remember to put all of our energy into taking the next step and just focus on the present moment.

“O world, I am in tune with every note of thy great harmony. For me nothing is early, nothing late, if it be timely for thee. O Nature, all that thy seasons yield is fruit for me.”

Awesome meaning, I guess believing in that should reduce stress and depression.

Just stop blaming the weather for the bad day! Nothing is early nor late; everything happens at a perfect timing. Go with the flow and let’s be in tune with every note of nature’s great harmony.

That takes us to another advice from Aurelius:

“Time is a river, the resistless flow of all created things. One thing no sooner comes in sight than it is hurried past and another is borne along, only to be swept away in its turn.”

Things come and go, it’s okay to move on and change! Actually, “Change” is the only constant in this life. Just move on.

And remember: “Reflect often upon the rapidity with which all existing things, or things coming into existence, sweep past us and are carried away.”

And that should remind us that:

“You cannot lose another life than the one you’re living now, or live another one than the one you’re losing.”

“You can’t lose either the past or the future; how could you lose what you don’t have?”

Time is a river, you can’t live in your past neither your future, so live the present moment and go with the flow.

“Your mind will be like its habitual thoughts; for the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts. Soak it then in such trains of thoughts as, for example: Where life is possible at all, a right life is possible.”

Simply, we are what we habitually think. Soak your mind with happy thoughts, positivity, integrity, forgiveness and love, then watch how your life will be transformed!

So, let me ask you, in what are you soaking your mind in?

“Everything - a horse, a vine - is created for some duty… For what task, then, were you yourself created? A man’s true delight is to do the things he was made for.”

Almost every great thinker and writer wrote about this meaning: every single one of us is created for a main purpose, a big “Why” for his/her life.

So, for what were you created? what makes you feel most alive? If you had all the money and all the time in the world, what would you do? What are your greatest gifts and how can you give them to the world?

And that takes us to another meaning:

“Let your one delight and refreshment be to pass from one service to the community to another, with God ever in mind.”

So, after knowing what you’re here to do and what are your biggest gifts, learn how to help other people and serve your community with these gifts. That’s your biggest mission, and always remember “Nothing is worth doing pointlessly.”

“Because a thing is difficult for you, do not therefore suppose it beyond mortal power. On the contrary, if anything is possible and proper for a man to do, assume that it must fall within your own capacity.”

Just stop saying “I can’t do it”, “It’s so hard”, “I’m a loser” … If someone else could do it, so you can too, that’s it!

Again, “Not to assume it’s impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it’s humanly possible, you can do it too.”

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

That’s very true. It’s how we react and how we estimate a situation that determines how we feel about it.

“Pain is neither unbearable nor unending, as long as you keep in mind its limits and don’t magnify them in your imagination.”

You can control your thoughts and how you feel as well. “Your ability to control your thoughts—treat it with respect. It’s all that protects your mind from false perceptions—false to your nature, and that of all rational beings. It’s what makes thoughtfulness possible, and affection for other people, and submission to the divine.”

“The approval of such men, who do not even stand well in their own eyes, has no value for him.”

So, don’t waste the rest of your time here worrying about other people—unless it affects the common good. It will keep you from doing anything useful.

You’ll be too preoccupied with what so-and-so is doing, and why, and what they’re saying, and what they’re thinking, and what they’re up to, and all the other things that throw you off and keep you from focusing on your own mind.

Another big idea is: “I seek the truth… it is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance that does harm.”

And that takes us to:

“Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed—and you haven’t been.”

“The existence of evil does not harm the world. And an individual act of evil does not harm the victim. Only one person is harmed by it—and he can stop being harmed as soon as he decides to.”

It’s your choice not to be harmed. No one and nothing can harm you except you allow them to! and that takes us to:

“It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character. Otherwise it cannot harm you—inside or out.”

“If the problem is something in your own character, who’s stopping you from setting your mind straight? And if it’s that you’re not doing something you think you should be, why not just do it?”

“When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it.”

Notice when you’re off-balance. For example: when you start to lose your patience with the traffic or your work, or your spouse, kids, colleague or anything. And notice how fast you can catch yourself and correct yourself, balance your thoughts and feelings, and bringing yourself back to equanimity.

And remember, as Aurelius says: “Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it.” So, you can actually master this skill!

“Men seek for seclusion in the wilderness, by the seashore, or in the mountains - a dream you have cherished too fondly yourself. But such fancies are wholly unworthy of a philosopher, since at any moment you choose you can retire within yourself.

Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul; above all, he possesses resources in himself, which he need only contemplate to secure immediate ease of mind - the ease that is but another word for a well-ordered spirit. Avail yourself often, then, of this retirement and so continually renew yourself.”

Many people seek solitude and believe in the power of the quiet and stillness of the mountains or ocean. They believe that’s the only choice to balance their minds and souls, but that’s not true!

As Aurelius says “you can retire within yourself”. So how to do that? You can pray, meditate, journal, exercise, practice yoga … Just do whatever relaxes your mind and soul every single day.

“Think often of the bond that unites all things in the universe, and their dependence on one another.”

A great meditation you can make is to think of the unity of everything in the universe. Think that everything is connected and dependent on one another.

Feel the power of being connected to everything and everyone and live your life accordingly. Imagine how your life, work, and relationships could be after applying this concept!

“Think often of the bond that unites all things in the universe, and their dependence on one another.”

A great meditation you can make is to think of the unity of everything in the universe. Think that everything is connected and dependent on one another.

Feel the power of being connected to everything and everyone and live your life accordingly. Imagine how your life, work, and relationships could be after applying this concept!

That was my Meditations by Marcus Aurelius review, a very quick look at this great book. If you haven’t read it yet and you’re interested in it, get a copy. There is a HUGE amount of wisdom and value in this book as you see, and we’ve only touched on a tiny bit of it.

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