Stoic Saturday: How to Act (Part 2)

Continuting to breakdown Marcus Aurelius’s thoughts on how one should act, the next part is a quick bit of advice – and also uses a great word.

• Also See Part 1
• Also See Part 3
• Also See Part 4

Don’t gussy up your thoughts.

First off, let’s all agree that “gussy up” is a tragically underused phrase. Now that we’ve established that, my first thought is how refreshing this is when it comes to talking about philosophy. No preposterous “what-ifs” or made up scenarios woven in an attempt to prove or disprove some philosophical abstract. Just clear advice to not just speak, but think straightforwardly.

Not that we want to underthink and make a rushed, uneducated decision. But how many times is the right decision clear, yet we go through mental gymnastics in an effort to justify our choices one way or the other? Yes, gray area does exist, but to get trapped in that area is folly. Set yourself in the right state of mind, with the right guiding principles to stay firmly on the path of black and and white. For a stoic, the virtues of courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom are that guide. Pursue those virtues straight on – in action, speech, and yes, thought.

Don’t waste your mental energy on justifications. Don’t try to convince yourself of something. When an ugly throught comes into your mind, don’t put lipstick on it. Dismiss it.

I also think that we often get caught up in unnecessary thoughts. Not just daydreaming or letting your mind wander, but letting truely useless thoughts get into our minds, distract us, and even effect our moods. How many times have you not given your kids your full attention because half your mind was on something that was trivial in comparison? Living in the moment and staying focused on the task at hand requires your physical and mental presence.

The playoff football game tomorrow, the presidential election in ten months, the fact that your baby will be graduating high school in a mere eleven years – none of these should take up your thoughts today. Give them as much thought as they demand in the moment, but nothing more.

Protect your thoughts. Control what influences them. Stay aware of, and in command of what occupies your mind. Dwell on what is essential. Dive deeply into what feeds you, what helps you grow. Expell the negative, the useless, the puffery. The challenge is training your mind in the first place to be able to recognize the difference between a right thought and an overly gussied one. Once you’ve got an understanding of what truely matters, the rest can start to fall into place.

So, what are you thinking about?