Let me level with you: growing up as a guy can feel like you’re being handed the world’s hardest video game, but someone forgot to give you the manual. The world isn’t exactly kind to men who always have a smile on and think its all rainbows and sunshine, It will crush you. If you’re not hustling, grinding, or carrying the emotional load of a brick wall, society’s got a whole lot to say about you. But let me tell you, there’s one guy who figured out how to win at life, and his name’s Marcus Aurelius.
This Roman emperor didn’t just run the most powerful empire on Earth; he also mastered the art of not letting life crush him. And no, he didn’t do it by scrolling Instagram or binge-watching shows. He wrote Meditations, a book that’s basically the cheat sheet to staying calm and doing your best, even when the world feels like it’s working against you.
The Emperor Who Was Really Him
Marcus Aurelius was the most powerful man in the world. Think of him like a Roman-era CEO of everything. Back then, Roman emperors were expected to live it up—money, wine, all the questionable life choices you could imagine. Yet, Marcus didn’t bite. Instead, he chose to be a good guy, day in and day out, for nearly 20 years.
Now, let’s be honest. If you were given unlimited power, no consequences, and zero people to tell you no, would you keep your nose clean for two decades? Yeah, me neither. But Marcus did, and he didn’t do it for applause. He did it because he believed in living by a code, not because it made him look good, but because it was the right thing to do.
Life’s Gonna Test You Chief
Here’s where it gets relatable. Marcus didn’t have it easy either. Sure, he was emperor, but he dealt with plagues, wars, and people who probably made high school bullies look like angels. Yet, he didn’t whine about it. He believed life would throw bad people and tough situations at you, and you couldn’t change that.
“Don’t wish for it to be easier,” Marcus might’ve said if he had TikTok back then. “Wish to be better.” His whole philosophy was about controlling what you can—your actions, your attitude—and letting go of what you can’t. Kind of like trying to carry your team in a game when half of them are AFK.
Don’t Let Stuff Own You
Marcus also had some words about money and possessions. He wasn’t anti-rich, but he saw right through the shiny stuff. Sure, it’s nice to have a fat wallet, but he warned about valuing things so much that losing them would break you. He’d probably tell you, “That new car’s cool, but it doesn’t make you cool.”
Death? Just Another Tuesday
Marcus was also weirdly chill about death. While most people freak out over mortality, Marcus was like, “It’s going to happen, so why stress?” He believed life was about being your best while you’re here and accepting that death is just part of the natural order. Deep, right? And I think we should all view it that way also
Why This Matters
At its core, Marcus’ philosophy was about living with virtue—being the best version of yourself. Not for fame, not for money, and definitely not to impress anyone else. He believed true happiness wasn’t about chasing temporary highs but in staying true to who you are, no matter what life throws at you.
So yeah, life’s not built for the rainbow and sunshine guys, but that’s okay. You’re not here to float through it; you’re here to rise above it. Take a page from Marcus’ book (literally, go read Meditations). Be the guy who weathers the storm, chooses the hard right over the easy wrong, and keeps moving forward.
Because let’s face it—if a guy who had everything handed to him on a silver platter could still live like this, what’s stopping you?
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