Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews - My Top 5 Takeaways from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Episode Date: February 11, 2019

The featured book this time around is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. And I know, this recommendation is pretty “basic” of me as stoicism is all the rage these days, but I’m going to make it anyway because I really do believe everyone can benefit from this book and stoic philosophy. I feel that’s especially true in today’s zeitgeist, which is moving further and further away from individualism, resilience, and responsibility and toward fear, fragility, and egoism. In fact, many young people in particular are upping the stakes by downright scorning many traditionally admired attitudes and behaviors and blindly celebrating their opposites. And I fear the consequences of this cultural experiment, which are already unfolding in a number of aways, are going to be severe. In short, I’d bet a lot of shekels that here in the West at least, the scene is going to get a lot worse before it starts getting better. But hey, hopefully I’m wrong. Anyway, back to the book—in case you’re not familiar with him, Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who earned the reputation of “philosopher king” during his lifetime and has since been recognized as one of history’s greatest rulers in both character and deed. Meditations, originally titled To Myself, contains Aurelius’ reflections on virtue, desire, rationality, emotions, the nature of the gods, and more. While many of his insights resonated with me, the messages that hit home the most were his views on how to dispassionately and effectively deal with the difficulties of life, the importance of avoiding hate and the intention to harm, and the value of living honestly and with purpose. A bit of humble self-reflection is good for the soul, and Meditations will take you on a brief, but meaningful (and maybe even cathartic), introspection. Let’s get to the takeaways. Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter! Click here: www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

Hey, this is Mike from Muscle for Life, and I'm often asked about books. People ask me for book recommendations on various topics. They ask me what book I am currently reading and what books I have recently read and what my favorite books are and so forth. And as an avid reader, I am always happy to oblige and get some book recommendations in return as well. I also just like to encourage people to read as much as possible because I think that knowledge benefits you much like compound interest benefits your bank account in that the more you learn, the more you know, and the more

you know, the more you can do, and the more you can do, the more opportunities you have to succeed. And on the flip side, I also believe that there is little hope for people who aren't perpetual learners. I know that might sound a little bit pessimistic or cynical to you, but let's face it, life is overwhelmingly complex and chaotic. And if we look around, we can find plenty of evidence that it simply suffocates and devours the lazy and ignorant. So if you are a bookworm and you're on the lookout for good reads, or if you'd like to just get into the habit of reading more,

then this book club is for you. The idea is very simple. Every week, I'm going to share a book that I've particularly liked, and I'm going to tell you why I liked it and give you several of my key takeaways from it. I'm also going to keep these episodes short and sweet so you can quickly decide whether or not a book is likely to be up your alley or not. This is where I would normally plug a sponsor to pay the bills, but I'm not big on promoting stuff that I don't personally use and believe in. So instead, I'm just going to quickly tell you about something of mine, specifically my 100% natural Legion protein bar. Now, unlike many protein bars, mine are not chalky, crumbly, hard to get down lumps made with low quality and undesirable forms of protein like milk protein, calcium caseinate, and soy protein, and chock full of artificial sweeteners, flavors, dyes, and other chemical junk. Instead, my protein bars contain 20 grams of high quality protein from a blend of whey isolate,

whey hydrolysate, whey concentrate, and pea protein isolate are naturally sweetened and flavored and do not sit on shelves for months on end. And so every bite is savory, moist, and pleasantly chewable. My goal was to create an all-natural protein bar that tastes like high-protein candy, and many of my customers say that I have done just that. So if you want a clean, all-natural, low-calorie and low-sugar protein bar that has 20 grams of five-star protein that tastes as good as it looks and that is easy on your stomach, then you want to head over to www.legionathletics.com

and try my protein bars today. And just to show how much I appreciate all of my podcast peoples, use the coupon code podcast at checkout and you will save 10% on your entire order. I also have a very simple 100% money back guarantee that works like this. You either love my stuff or you get your money back, period. No having to return the products, fill out forms, or jump through any other hoops. So you really can't lose here. Head over to www.legionathletics.com. Now, place your order and see for yourself why my supplements have thousands of rave reviews all over the internet. All righty, that is enough shameless plugging for now at least.

Let's get to the show. Okay, so let's get to the featured book, which is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. And I know, I know this is pretty basic of me as stoicism is all the rage these days, but I am going to make this recommendation anyway, because I really do believe everyone can benefit from this book and stoic philosophy. I also feel that is especially true in today's world, in today's zeitgeist, which is moving further and further away from things like individualism, resilience, and responsibility, and toward fear, fragility, and egoism. In fact, many young people in particular are upping the stakes even further by downright scorning many traditionally admired attitudes and behaviors and blindly celebrating their opposites. And I honestly fear the consequences of this cultural experiment, of this cultural experiment. Because we know the world that tradition can give us. We are living in it. And while it is not perfect by any means, and will never be no matter what we do,

an important point, the world now is far better in so many ways than it ever has been before, and especially when you look to human welfare generally. And so as we, at least in the West, continue our modern revolt against our ancestors, against our heritage, we really don't know what comes next. Are we throwing the baby out with the bathwater? We will find out. And again, I don't think it's going to go well. We are already seeing the consequences. They are already unfolding in a number of ways. And I do think that things are going to get a lot worse before they start getting better. But hey, hopefully I'm wrong. Truly, I actually hope I'm wrong. Anyway, let's get back to the book. In case you are not familiar with Marcus Aurelius, he was a Roman emperor who earned the

reputation of a philosopher king during his lifetime and has since been recognized as one of history's greatest rulers in both character and deed. And this book, Meditations, was originally titled To Myself because it was Aurelius' journal, really. He wrote it for himself, and it contains his reflections on many different things, including virtue, desire, rationality, emotions, the nature of the gods, and more. And while many of Aurelius' insights resonated with me, the messages that hit home the most were his views on how to dispassionately and effectively deal with the many difficulties of life, which are unavoidable, his thoughts on the importance of avoiding hate and the intention to harm, and on the value of living honestly and purposefully. So if I could summarize this book in one line, it would be something like this. A bit of humble self-reflection is always good for

the soul and meditations will take you on a brief but meaningful and maybe even cathartic introspection. but meaningful and maybe even cathartic introspection. Hey, quickly, before we carry on, if you are liking my podcast, would you please help spread the word about it? Because no amount of marketing or advertising gimmicks can match the power of word of mouth. So if you are enjoying this episode and you think of someone else who might enjoy it as well, please do tell them about it. It really helps me. And if you are going to post about it on social media, definitely tag me so I can say thank you. You can find me on Instagram at Muscle for Life Fitness, Twitter at Muscle for Life, and Facebook at muscle for life fitness. All right. With that, let's get to the takeaways. Here's the first choose not to be harmed and you

won't feel harmed. Don't feel harmed and you haven't been. And my note here is don't think you can't do this. No matter how challenging a situation might be, you can respond to it in one of two ways. You can view it as a challenge or as a threat. And that choice can make all the difference in how it affects you. To quote Brad Stolberg and Steve Magnus from their fantastic 2017 book Peak Performance, quote, some individuals learn to assess stressors as challenges rather than threats. This outlook, which researchers call a challenge response, is characterized by viewing stress as something productive and, much like we've written, as a stimulus for growth. In the midst of stress, those who demonstrate a challenge response proactively focus on what they can control.

With this outlook, negative emotions like fear and anxiety decrease. This response better enables these individuals to manage and even thrive under stress. Now, one way to do this is to choose to view feelings of anxiety, stress, and fear that accompany uncomfortable situations as natural responses that can be redirected toward positive outcomes. In fact, you can even view the process of pushing through and reflecting on pain as an opportunity to figure out the lesson or lessons that can be learned. In other words, you can view it as a game of sorts. And the better you get at this game, the more you will come to enjoy your struggles and the rewards they provide. Okay, takeaway number two, quote, he keeps in mind that all rational things are related and that to

care for all human beings is part of being human, which doesn't mean we have to share their opinions. We should listen only to those whose lives conform to nature and the others. He bears in mind what sort of people they are, both at home and abroad, by night as well as day, and who they spend their time with. And he cares nothing for their praise, men who can't even meet their own standards. And my note here is to attain true happiness and satisfaction in life, I believe that it is necessary to live in accordance with our own observations, ideas, intentions, and inclinations. In other words, I believe the surest path to a good life is to work to gain as much clarity as we can about who we are, what we perceive and believe, and what we want to do and why, and then to align everything

we have at our disposal toward goals that reflect our realities. This is impossible if we can't escape the desire for praise from others. If we can't learn to appreciate our own applause above everyone else's. To quote Aurelius again, then what is to be prized? An audience clapping? No. No more than the clacking of their tongues, which is all that public praise amounts to, a clacking of tongues. So we throw out other people's recognition. What's left for us to prize? I think it's this, to do and not to do what we were designed for. That's the goal of all trades, all arts, and what each of them aims at. That the thing they create should do what it was designed to do. The nursery man who cares for the vines, the horse trainer, the dog reader. This is what they aim at. So that's what we should prize.

Hold on to that and you won't be tempted to aim at anything else. Okay, the next takeaway is, to do harm is to do yourself harm. To do an injustice is to do yourself an injustice. It degrades you. My note here is, this reminds me of the famous John Donne poem, which goes like this. No man is an island entire of itself. Every man is a piece of the continent. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner inextricably linked with the well-being of others. And every time we harm another, we harm ourselves directly. Likewise, every time we act wrongly or succumb to an invitation to hate and rage, we weaken ourselves. And every time we show understanding and kindness, we resonate with what Aurelius refers to as the logos or the divine rationality that

pervades and governs the universe. And this is why Aurelius repeatedly exhorts himself in his journal to act with kindness, compassion, and tolerance regardless of others' behavior. That posture, he believed, is invincible, provided it's sincere. Someone despises me, he wrote, that's their problem. Mine, not to do or say anything despicable. Someone hates me, their problem. Mine, to be patient and cheerful with everyone, including them, ready to show them their mistake, not spitefully or to show off my own self-control, but in an honest, upright way. Okay, takeaway number four, quote, at dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, I have to go to work as a human being. What do I have to complain of if I'm going to do what I was born for,

the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for, to huddle under the blankets and stay warm? But it's nicer here. So you were born to feel nice instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don't you see the plants, the birds, the ants, and spiders, and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order as best they can, and you're not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren't you running to do what your nature demands? And my note here is that it is a humbling thought to consider that ants go to work every day for the good of their colonies. So who are we to neglect our duties and demands? Are we really willing to admit that we are less determined than an ant, that we have less respect for our nature. As Aurelius

said, our worth is measured by what we devote our energy to, and we have to assemble our lives ourselves, action by action. Thus, every minute of every day is an opportunity to devote ourselves to what is right, honest, and honorable, and to live up to our own expectations. The Pythagoreans tell us to look at the stars at daybreak, Aurelius wrote, to remind ourselves how they complete the tasks assigned them. Always the same tasks, the same way. And their order purity nakedness. Stars wear no concealment. All right, the fifth and final takeaway. Quote, the impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way. And my note here is this line inspired Ryan Holliday's bestselling book, The Obstacle is the Way, which I recommend that you read if you have

not already. And in that book, Holliday wrote, when you have a goal, obstacles are actually teaching you how to get where you want to go, carving you a path. In other words, the things in our way show us the direction we need to go in and what we need to overcome to win. Our current society, on the other hand, is becoming obsessed with avoiding and eliminating obstacles instead of learning how to surmount them. And this can only lead to pain, disappointment, and despair. The sooner we individually can accept the reality that life is an uphill journey and one that never really gets easier and is one where we never really reach a destination. The sooner we can focus on what really matters, on doing what is inside and in front of us with precision, purposiveness, and pride. Hey there, it is Mike again. I hope you enjoyed this episode and found it interesting Pride. This not only convinces people that they should check the show out, it also increases its search visibility and thus helps more people find their way to me and learn how to build their best bodies ever too.

And of course, if you want to be notified when the next episode goes live, then just subscribe to the podcast and you won't miss out on any of the new goodies. of the new goodies. Lastly, if you didn't like something about the show, then definitely shoot me an email at mike at muscleforlife.com and share your thoughts on how you think it could be better. I read everything myself and I'm always looking for constructive feedback, so please do reach out. All right, that's it. Thanks again for listening to this episode and I hope to hear from you soon. And lastly, this episode is brought to you by me. Seriously though, I'm not big on promoting stuff that I don't personally use and believe in. So instead, I'm going to just quickly tell you about something of mine, specifically my 100% natural Legion protein bar. Now, unlike many protein bars, mine are not chalky, crumbly, hard to get down lumps

made with low quality and undesirable forms of protein like milk protein, calcium caseinate, and soy protein, and chock full of artificial sweeteners, flavors, dyes, and other chemical junk. Instead, my protein bars contain 20 grams of high quality protein from a blend of whey isolate, whey hydrolysate, whey concentrate, and pea protein isolate are naturally sweetened and flavored and do not sit on shelves for months on end. And so every bite is savory, moist, and pleasantly chewable. My goal was to create an all natural protein bar that tastes like high protein candy. And many of my customers say that I have done just that. So if you want a clean, all natural, low calorie and low sugar protein bar that has 20 grams of five-star protein that tastes as good as it looks,

and that is easy on your stomach, then you want to head over to www.legionathletics.com and try my protein bars today. And just to show how much I appreciate all of my podcast peoples, use the coupon code podcast at checkout and you will save 10% on your entire order. I also have a very simple 100% money back guarantee that works like this. You either love my stuff or you get your money back, period. No having to return the products, fill out forms, or jump through any other hoops. So you really can't lose here. Head over to www.legionathletics.com. Now place your order and see for yourself why my supplements have thousands of rave reviews all over the internet.