The Answer is Inside.

I've been reading Meditations lately before bed. It's the journal of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and has become part of my "wind down" from the day, a chance to quiet the mind. There is so much wisdom in Meditations, and for me is even more powerful in that it was never meant to be read by anyone; it was Aurelius' private thoughts. When I read it I always imagine him writing with a quill by candlelight, reflecting on his day, the challenges of fatherhood, of power. Of life.

Tonight I read this in Book 2:

"Do external things distract you? Then make time for yourself to learn something worthwhile; stop letting yourself be pulled in all directions. But make sure you guard against the other kind of confusion. People who labor all their lives but have no purpose to direct every thought and impulse toward are wasting their time -- even when hard at work."

How perfect for our present moment! We are distracted by the dopamine factory that is social media, the constant pinging of updates and the mindless scrolling of our feeds. Even those who eschew social media can't help but by inundated by news updates, emails, texts and other distractions to our daily life. We are all Pavlov's dogs now, salivating at the sound of a morsel of validation in our phones. How many times have you reflexively picked up your phone today to see if there are new messages or notifications you've missed?

The Stoics were fascinated by the inherent conflict we have between the internal and external; Epictetus called it the "Dichotomy of Control." We can't control the external world, but we can control OUR internals -- what we know, think, believe, and feel -- about any given situation. This is where inner peace can be found, in the natural control you have over how you react to life. The key to life is not to be pulled in all directions by forces outside of yourself. Don't pursue the dopamine hit, or the ego gratification, from someone (or something) external to you.

These are false Gods that will leave you empty.

And there is another point here, too: have a purpose that is meaningful, and direct your energies toward whatever it is. Don't waste your time wandering as the wind blows. Rather, set a course and move with determination toward it. Teach yourself new skills, read new thoughts, talk to new people. Grow your mind!

Ken Davenport is the author of The Stoic Edge: How to Overcome Resistance, Build Resilience and Live your Best Life.