Understand & improve your understanding of the world; and that of yourself

In the next lessons, we will get to know the three rules, the three disciplines, which the Stoics observe. They are called “disciplines” and guide the Stoic discourse towards an even more practical philosophy.

But before that, I want to ask you a question, or rather, I want you to ask yourself a question:

But before that, let me ask you something—or rather, invite you to ask yourself:
Do you truly know yourself, {{username}}?

This isn’t just about invoking Socrates’ famous maxim, "Know thyself" ¹.
It’s about reflecting on whether we can truly act wisely and effectively without first understanding who we are.

After all,

_ How can you do something if you don't know what is good for you?

__ How can you make decisions that benefit you if you don't know yourself?

___ How can you be true to yourself in all your thoughts and actions if you don't know yourself?

____ how can you distinguish what is achievable for you and what isn't, if you don't know yourself?

Take a moment now and then to look inside yourself, to understand who you really are, to see what makes you special as a person. What are your passions, your desires and goals? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your values? What are your likes and dislikes? Marcus Aurelius is telling us “The controlling Reason knows its own disposition, what it creates, and the material upon which it works,” ² and to “delve within; within is the fountain of good, and it is always ready to bubble up, if you always delve.” ³

Having unattainable dreams is the best way to never achieve them.

Take a moment to look at you.
You.
Your being.

This pursuit of wisdom can have a very down to earth application in your daily life. When you know yourself well {{username}}, you're better able to make the right choices:

Decide between what is good for you and what isn't good for you,
Know what you're capable of and what you aren't,
Learn what you know, what you don't know.
Recognize unreasonable passions and rethink them,
Question biased judgments.

By asking yourself these questions, finding answers to them, and correcting your actions, you are already working to act in harmony with your own nature as well as in harmony with the Common Nature.

So your approach is not only committed to the egocentric goal of self-knowledge, but also to the goal of better integrating yourself into the Whole.

Indeed, since everything belongs to Universal Nature, when you know yourself better and act according to your own nature, you are also acting in accordance with Universal Nature, in harmony with it. This leads to a better life because you align with the greater whole, finding peace, purpose, and the clarity to live as nature intended.