How to make the best out of change. By the Roman Emperor himself

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for?it's not the same river and he's not the same man. ― Heraclitus

Let me introduce myself, I'm Marcus Aurelius, I'm a stoic philosopher and I have ruled the Roman Empire from 161 to 180. Today, I'm going to share with you some principles that will help you accept change and deal with it more effectively.

We all face difficulties in our daily lives and it is never easy to cope with change, as it often involves suffering.

Sometimes we lose the comfort of a pleasant situation, other times we are confronted with challenges that we do not know how to overcome.

Life is full of surprises, good or bad. So how can we best manage all these hazards while keeping control of our emotions and making the right decisions? This is what I intend to show you today.?

We all know that change is everywhere. Even as you read this article, some cells in your body are dying while others are being created. So, technically, you'll be a different person at the end of your reading.

This being said, it's one thing to know the truth but it's another to accept it. Logic tells you that change is the natural process of life and that you should just accept it, while emotions turn on all the red lights in anticipation of the pain you are going to experience and cause you to resist what is coming.

Why do we suffer at the idea of change? simply because change is the loss of a known situation and the lack of knowledge of a future situation. as we like certainties, we prefer something we know, whether it is good or bad, to something we do not know. But rest assured, resistance to change is more than natural, it is even encoded in your genes.

So, let's be pragmatic, let me share with you three practical ways to embrace change.

#1 - Dichotomy of control

Always keep in mind that there are only two things you can actually control: your thoughts and your actions. everything else can be lost or taken away.

so the first skill to develop is learning to distinguish between what is under your control and what is not as it is counterproductive to focus your attention on something you cannot control, such as what other people are doing, or what they are thinking.

You can't change others or the situation you are in, but you can change the way you see them.?Suppose you are in a meeting with a disgruntled client who keeps criticizing the work you have done for him. Do you have control over his reactions? obviously not. do you have control over your reactions? obviously yes. You can therefore show empathy and listen to what your client is saying in order to understand the causes of his dissatisfaction and make adjustments in response to his needs.. in this way, you will be able to control your thoughts and emotions, which will allow you to make the most appropriate decision?and manage the situation effectively.

#2 - Expectations

Things will happen as they do, not as we expect

Let me be honest with you, the world doesn't care about your expectations. The universe is not going to bend over backwards to match what you feel or think. If you think it will, you're in for a disappointment.?

Contrary to what the positive thinking gurus will tell you, I highly recommend that you practice negative visualization. You don't need rocket science skills to figure out that when you prepare for the worst and the worst happens, you are much better equipped to handle it. In my opinion, this is more effective than thinking the world will welcome you with red carpet and flowers...?

#3 - Acceptance

whether you agree or disagree with what happened won't change the fact that it happened. the best thing to do is to learn from the past, the failures and the successes, so that you will be better equipped tomorrow to handle the same types of situations.?

Always keep in mind that nothing lasts forever, neither the good nor the bad. rejoice when life goes your way and be patient when times are difficult.?

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. - Lao TSEU

Farewell note

Congratulations on completing your first article on the Philosophy of Success. I was honored to share my advice with you and I hope it will be useful to you in some way. It is time for me to return to Rome, I have an empire to run.?Don't forget to subscribe to this newsletter and invite your friends and colleagues to do the same. they will thank you for it.

Cheers !!