The Right Thing. Nothing Else

The Only Rule You Need

We tend to over complicate our lives. We have a lot of things we “should” do or “need” to do. It’s much easier to complicate than to simplify. 

Marcus Aurelius beautifully simplifies life in the following passage -

“Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn’t matter.

Cold or warm.

Tired or well-rested.

Despised or honored.

Dying… or busy with other assignments…” (6.2)

If all you care about in any situation is doing the right thing, you will do all you should and need to do. Even to the point of death, that you should care only that you do the right thing. 

Because who could be depressed if they always do the right thing? Who could be angry or unhappy if they always do what they know to be the right thing?

Live a life you are proud of. If you start to become critical of yourself, have a mountain of evidence that you are a person who does the right things. There is nothing more virtuous than to live that life. That IS the goal.

Be careful what you tell yourself are your needs. The only true need is to always do what is right. Define that for yourself. 

Brains Gains 

What does “right” mean to you? Why? 

Live today so that tonight when your head hits the pillow, you are proud of yourself.

Noah “BigNerd” Sochaczevski

PS. November 12 Reading: Pages 75-82