Marcus Aurelius: first Philosopher, then Emperor.

Today April 26th, 19 centuries ago, one of the most outstanding emperors in roman history was born. His period as Caesar was considered one of the most chaotic due to external factors (pandemics, barbarian wars and religious persecution), yet considered as the greatest prosperity phase of the Empire. Graduated in literature, painting and dance; considered himself above all a Stoic philosopher. The intention of this article is to explain stoicism as a tool to enhance happiness and overcome any adversity.

"Philosophy is the love in wisdom and the art of living a good life"– Marcus Aurelius. 

This line of thought explains that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge; the wise live in harmony with the divine reason that governs nature, and are indifferent to the vicissitudes of fortune and to pleasure and pain. Its principles can be summarized in 4 major doctrines.

1. Act with Virtue. To achieve the art of excellence the following elements are necessary: wisdom, discipline, justice and courage. Explaining that happiness and power are products of self-realization.
2. Understand Reality. Both mind and body need challenges to become stronger. Treat your reality as an hypothesis and not as a fact. Question Everything. Challenges perceived as opportunities.

3. Regulate Emotions. Calm in the midst of chaos. The control of your life depends on the quality of emotions and thoughts. This is the key for achieving /Resilience/ ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Being resilient does not mean that people don’t experience stress, emotional upheaval, and suffering, but is how they overcome those.

• Regular Mindset: Stimulus - Emotion - Reaction.
• Stoic Mindset: Stimulus - Emotion - *Interpretation Filter* - Analysis - Decision

4. Prioritize Control. Mental operating system that allows limited time to be channeled into aspects that we can fully control. The wise man cares about the intentions of his actions, not the results. Remember: Always pay attention to details, but don't be distracted by insignificance.

"Be strict with yourself and tolerant with others" – Marcus Aurelius. 

The stoics realized a fundamental truth: An obstacle isn’t something to be feared, but an opportunity to practice reappraisal; a moment that demands courage, clarity of reason, and discipline. The wonderful philosophy of stoicism can make us masters of emotion regulation, allowing us to reappraise negative impressions and transform them into emotions that contribute to our happiness.

If you want to continue learning about stoicism, check the following books :)

1. Undefeated: Accomplish more, suffer less. - Author: Marcos Vazquez
2. Meditations - Author: Marco Aurelio (Personal Journal) *Highly recommended*
3. The Daily Stoic - Author: Ryan Holiday
4. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy - Author: Donald Robertson
5. The Art of the Good Life: A Path to Stoic Joy - Author: William Braxton Irvine