Facing the Future with Confidence: A Lesson from Marcus Aurelius

We often worry about the future, the outcome of events and circumstances that are beyond our control. The thought of what might happen next is sometimes too much to bear. But is it truly unpredictable and overwhelming?

The Roman philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, writes that “if you’ve seen the present, then you’ve seen everything.” He is pointing out that the same experiences and challenges that exist in the present will always be present in the future. There is nothing new, only a repetition of what has already been experienced throughout history.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the future, but Marcus reminds us that we have the same weapons and tools to handle these challenges as we have used to handle everything else in our lives. The future is not as uncertain as it seems. Everything we will face in the future, we have faced in the present or have seen in history.

So, next time you find yourself worrying about the future, remember Marcus’ words. You are equipped to handle anything that comes your way. The future may be uncertain, but you are not.