Maintain Your Composure
“When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it.”
—Marcus Aurelius
Meditations
Life is a symphony, ever-changing and sometimes startling with its abrupt shifts in tempo.
Think about yesterday: did a work email, a personal slight, or a piece of bad news knock you off balance?
It’s in these moments we must act swiftly to regain our composure, to retune our instruments, so to speak. Just as a musician swiftly corrects a sour note, we too should aim for a quick restoration of our emotional equilibrium.
Increasing your mastery of equanimity is like perfecting a musical scale—it’s done through repetition and practice.
Every time life throws a curveball and you swiftly regain your composure, you're reinforcing a powerful habit. Each instance is an opportunity to practice.
Marcus suggests using these instances not as setbacks, but as stepping stones toward a more resilient, stoic mindset.
So today, as you encounter the ups and downs, ask yourself: how quickly can I return to harmony?
Each successful return is a victory, a note played right, making the music of your life that much sweeter and your mastery of self-control that much stronger.