Purpose Through Chaos
“That which has died falls not out of the universe. If it stays here, it also changes here, and is dissolved into its proper parts, which are elements of the universe, and of yourself. And these too change, and they murmur not.”
—Marcus Aurelius
Meditations
Nothing ever truly leaves the vast expanse of the universe; even in death, there's no exit, just transformation. Just as leaves that fall are reabsorbed into the earth, becoming nutrients for new growth, every end in our lives is a dispersal of elements, ready to take on new form.
Nothing is wasted, not even our smallest moments or deepest losses. They dissolve and disperse, contributing to the constant, silent symphony of change.
Think about the changes you've experienced in your life—jobs that have ended, relationships that have shifted, projects that have closed. How often do you resist these endings, or find yourself murmuring against them?
Marcus would have us see these not as finalities to rail against, but as the natural progression of the universe's ceaseless creativity. Within you, as within the cosmos, nothing stops; it merely changes.
So next time you face a conclusion, ask yourself: Can I let this dissolve without murmur, and be curious about what elements will emerge from this transformation?