Today I want you to reflect on this text by Marcus Aurelius, a profound invitation to examine what is really important to you, what you really value.
Hint: It's not in the recognition of others, but in the passion you demonstrate in your pursuits.
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“What, then, should be valued?
The clapping of hands?
Surely not;
and so not even the clapping of tongues, for the applause of multitudes is a clapping of tongues.
Therefore you have put mere glory away.
What is left to be valued?
To my thinking to move and to be held back according to man's proper constitution, the end to which both rustic industries and the arts give the lead. (For every art aims at this, that what it fashions should be suited to the purpose for which it has been fashioned. This is the aim of the gardener and of the vine-dresser, of the breaker of colts and the trainer of dogs.) And to what end do children's training and teaching labour?
Here, then, is what is of true value, and if this is in good order, you will not seek to acquire any of the other things for yourself.
Will you not cease to value many other things besides? Then you will not be free or self-contained or passionless; for you will be obliged to entertain envy and rivalry, to regard with suspicion those who are able to take away those things, to plot against those who have what is valued by you. To sum up, he who feels the want of any one of those things must be sullied thereby and besides must often blame the gods.
But to reverence
and value your own understanding
will make you acceptable to yourself, harmonious with your fellows, and in concord with the gods; that is, praising whatsoever they assign and have ordained.”