IV. Prioritize Character Growth
Philosophy: Keep returning to it, to rest in its embrace.
"If you had a stepmother and a real mother, you would pay your respects to your stepmother, yes…but it's your real mother you'd go home to. Philosophy: Keep returning to it, to rest in its embrace. It's all that makes the court—and you—endurable.’” — Marcus Aurelius
It's tempting to put your career first.
I don't blame you.
You got to eat.
You'll want to hit the gym. The sauna. Take the cold showers. Sign up for the marathon. Write the blog. The book. Do the 48 hour fast.
All for valid reasons.
There are lots of health and financial benefits to expect from those actions.
But that's missing the point of doing what's challenging. Of going after any goal.
Of living.
You don't do it for money, health, physical beauty, women, the respect, status, or anything else worldly.
Remember. Those goods can be taken from you at any time except one thing.
“…the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” — Viktor Frankl says.
So, it's all for a much larger purpose. For practicing a philosophy of life. Moving with grace, joy, and confidence.
You do it because you want to act as an elite human being. You're in it for the game. You want to actualize your full potential before you're old. Or dead.
Of course, you have a good idea of the path you want to follow. You're not aimless. But you focus more on refining the attitude of mind, standards, and technique that'll get you there instead of the outcomes.
For like Marcus Aurelius on the throne, the quality of your mind and character is what makes you admirable and resplendent. Not position.
This is a much harder task. And it won't seem natural.
But I promise you you'll get all the rest without knowing, because you'll be busy focusing on the absolute best you can be.
The competition won't matter — because you're pouring your energy into iterating your character, product, or craft to serve others as best as possible.
Robert Greene says concentrate your forces. I suggest you do the same by working to be as strong as possible. As good as you can possibly be.
Keep returning to philosophy and let it guide you.
See you tomorrow. xo
A.V