one life, make it all count

Let each thing you would do, say or intend be like that of a dying person.

Thomas Bossard, Meditation II

“Let each thing you would do, say or intend be like that of a dying person.” - Marcus Aurelius

You live in a world that keeps stretching your attention- your work in one direction, your conversations in another, your thoughts in a hundred more. This pull happens in what you do; and more overlooked- in what you say when you’re tired, in what you think when your mind goes on autopilot, in how you treat others, and in the stories and excuses you give yourself when you’re by yourself. Modern life offers a thousand exits from your core- but there’s a way to prison-break from this insanity. Each time you return to the task, the word, the thought directly in front of you- pitting it against your standards and values, you feel grounded because the practice offers nothing other than caretaking this moment to concern yourself with. Presence and the gentle retrieval of your attention, gives you back your own mind.

The actions that comprise your life begin with the quality of your thinking. A distracted mind produces lack-lustre effort, then mediocre results. A mind lined with logically unrefined assumptions builds crazy worlds that never exist. When you pause long enough to examine what you’re telling yourself- when you question the little fictions about the fidelity of your desires, the imagined motives of others, the internal forecasts of your doom- you free up enormous strength. You start working with what’s real. You stop ruining your day and draining yourself with phantom stories. Thought becomes a powerful tool again instead of a trap, as it was always meant to be, and that change alone can carry you farther than you’d ever imagine.

Then comes speech. What you say trains your mind in return- it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. What you say also has a direct impact on others. Words dictate mood, direction, and stamina. When you speak with intention- measured, patient, rooted in goodwill- you feel something inside you rise to meet that tone. Conversations become more interesting. Relationships feel deeper- more fun. Even your self-talk takes on a different quality- you’re kinder, more friendly to yourself. You stop feeding your weaker emotions with careless remarks. You start speaking in a way that gives you strength and makes you admirable.

And finally there is action, the visible proof of your inner state. When you give your work and relationships dedicated attention, when you bring detail, intention, and follow-through, you don’t just complete tasks- what you work on works on you, you build trust in yourself. You do things once because you do them well. You act promptly because it drives momentum, which makes your life’s purpose and craft more pleasurable. You choose consistency because you like how things compound- 1 becomes 10, 10 becomes 1,000, 1,000 becomes 100,000. You treat your projects and relationships with the seriousness of someone who understands that time is limited and you want to experience what it means to be great, to do really cool stuff, to love and to be loved.

Now, dear reader, as you get to align what you think, what you say, and what you do, you’ll feel your life gather force. You’ll become more patient, more courageous. Even discipline will become easier. You’ll endure the moment as it arrives and make something worthwhile out of it. You’ll really enjoy yourself. Feel the delight of creating rather than consuming. You’ll let purpose move through every layer of your mind giving you sublime satisfaction. And as this alignment strengthens, each day will gain a kind of interest and depth whose pleasure distractions can’t imitate.

You'll move forward- free, unperturbed, prosperous, joyful- glad you got to live.

---

Join 79,000 other Stoics,

P.S: Annual & Patron members get all my books with their subscription. The bundle includes, ‘The Best of Marcus Aurelius’, ‘The Tools’, with over 40,000 words of bonus content + a free copy of ‘The Stoic Manual Vol. 1’ dropping September next year. Patron members also get Lifetime Access to the publication with a one-time fee, all bonuses, and all future benefits- at no extra cost. Featured,

P.P.S: Most people loved the series on How to Deepen Your Friendships, Part I, Part II & Part III. Also check out the practical entries on How To Deal With Toxic People, How to Process & Overcome Grief & How to Prevent and Overcome Burnout. Happy reading!

---

Did you like this entry? Tell me about it.

I always enjoy hearing from you, and for you to hear from each other.

Please leave a like (❤️), tell me what you think (💬) in the comment section and share this post with someone so that more people can discover and benefit from it.

Support The Stoic Manual and access 260+ premium in-depth essays: lessons & mini-courses in the art of living, consolations for difficult times, Relationship Mini-courses, The Wealth Playbook, Leadership Skills, Social Skills and Health Tools for a virile and distinguished life.