ā[T]hings do not touch the soul, for they are external and remain immovable; but our perturbations come only from the opinion which is within.ā
- Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius believed that our inner peace is unshakable by outside events, that itās only our thoughts about the events that rattle us to the core.Ā
In his view, being fired from your job is just a fact of temporary unemployment. How we interpret the firing determines whether itās a catastrophic embarrassment or an opportunity for career development. Even something as drastic (my interpretation) as a critical diagnosis is simply a report of biological status. Itās our opinion of the diagnosis that adds heaviness with words like ātragicā and āheartbreaking.ā
As tough as this may be to process, modern research in psychology aligns with Aureliusā ancient understanding, with one major distinction: we have to factor in the existence of stress hormones, chemical imbalance, and trauma, etc., which alter our perception as well.Ā
So, what do we do with this?
To start, we can prioritize sleep, practice calming techniques such as prayer and meditation, and seek help when needed. And from there, we can rewrite the stories we tell ourselves. When something ābadā or āupsettingā happens, thereās an opportunity to pause and ask, āIs this the label I need to go with?āĀ
Stuff happens. And, sometimes, it hurts. But our inner peace is untouchable by anything or anyone but us.Ā
Get a Daily Mindshift every morning in your inbox!
Know someone who might enjoy this?