We’d say Marcus Aurelius was a rock star philosopher, but that would fly in the face of what being a Stoic is all about. Imagine being the most powerful person in the world yet taking time every night to jot notes to yourself about how to be a better person. That’s the kind of guy Aurelius was, and it’s also why his wisdom on navigating life’s complexities is as relevant to this day as they were in his time — and clearly something to, well, meditate on.

Topics discussed:

• What Aurelius’ famed “Meditations” really were — and why his deeply personal observations weren’t meant to be shared
• Why the mind is the battlefield that this Roman Emperor was most focused upon, even as he led the Romans through 12 years of war (the Roman–Parthian War of 161–66 and the Marcomannic Wars)
• The dance between the ebb and flow of nature and that of the will of human beings… and how that impacts the future
• How Aurelius embraced the Stoic doctrine and how he deviated from it (Hint: Cue the song “Feelings” by Morris Albert)
• The best way to handle anger (along with all of your impulses and emotions)
• Plus a few biggies: how to find true happiness, what’s the purpose of life, and what the heck he meant by “the universe is transformation: life is opinion”