You Have To Choose

Book IX of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations finds the philosopher and Roman emperor exposing the foolishness that is believing there could be a world where no wrongdoers exist. He reminds us that these sorts of people "must necessarily exist" in the world, and that accepting this frees us to "view them more kindly."

So too can this mindset aid us in viewing our own challenges more kindly. All chosen paths present demands that "must necessarily exist." The business owner persists through periods of uncertainty. The entertainer and the athlete endure countless hours of preparation. The caregiver battles fatigue and the balancing of her own distinct interests.

Internet writer and author Mark Manson is known for asking, "What pain do you want in your life?"

From our macro decisions to the micro, what we're to remember is the following: We pursue what we perceive to unlock the greater benefit. Our task is to remain acutely aware of what we believe to be our own greatest benefits, and to cultivate a sensitivity to their evolution. We can then view the inevitable frictions and perceived sacrifices within our pursuits more kindly.

In matters of our own influence, remembering that it's you who chooses takes you from passive passenger to conscious operator.

And so you have to choose—every year, every week, every day—what friction you are willing to consistently overcome (temporarily, or perpetually). What pain is ultimately indicative of a larger gift that you would not trade?

Choose accordingly.

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