“Don’t return to philosophy as a task-master, but as patients seek out relief in a treatment of sore eyes, or a dressing for a burn, or from an ointment. Regarding it this way, you’ll obey reason without putting it on display and rest easy in its care.”
MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.9
It’s really easy to get busy in life with everything that’s going on, and then we start to view self-care — meditation, philosophy, journaling, reading — as just simply annoying tasks that are taking up space on our to-do list.
This has happened to me. Every day I put “Read The Daily Stoic” on my list, and sometimes when I’ve got a jam-packed day I start to look at my list and think “Ugh, oh yeah, I have to do that”, when instead I should be saying “Ohhh that’s going to feel great” or “Mmmm I can’t wait, that will be good for me.”
This is how we have to view it: that philosophy is medicine, not simply a task that we really ought to complete. Philosophy is medicine for the ill — which can happen when we get hurt on the inside, just like any other injury — and sometimes that medicine stings too, but it’s so important that we take it.
We should seek out this medicine whenever our soul requires it — and not only when we’re feeling down or depressed, but before that happens. A stoic reading per day keeps the doctor away, as they say! Okay nobody says that. But it’s still true, because stoicism is a blueprint for life. It’s not meant to be referred to occasionally, it’s meant to be an everyday thing. Make it part of every one of your days, it will keep you healthy!
