Your three components: body, breath, mind. Two are yours in trust; to the third alone you have clear title.
If you can cut yourself—your mind—free of what other people do and say, of what you’ve said or done, of the things that you’re afraid will happen, the impositions of the body that contains you and the breath within, and what the whirling chaos sweeps in from outside, so that the mind is freed from fate, brought to clarity, and lives life on its own recognizance—doing what’s right, accepting what happens, and speaking the truth—
If you can cut free of impressions that cling to the mind, free of the future and the past—can make yourself, as Empedocles says, “a sphere rejoicing in its perfect stillness,” and concentrate on living what can be lived (which means the present) … then you can spend the time you have left in tranquillity. And in kindness. And at peace with the spirit within you.
Meditations 12.3
Today’s meditation
The underlying Stoic issue here is the importance of mental clarity and freedom from external influences. In Meditations 12.3, Marcus Aurelius writes about the need to "cut yourself—your mind—free of what other people do and say" to achieve a state of tranquility and peace. This passage reveals that living well requires focusing on what can be controlled, namely one's own thoughts and actions.
The key insight is that the mind can be freed from the burdens of the past, future, and external events. As Marcus Aurelius says, one can "live life on its own recognizance—doing what's right, accepting what happens, and speaking the truth." This means letting go of distractions and concentrating on the present moment.
To apply this insight today, someone could start by taking a few moments to reflect on their thoughts and emotions. They could ask themselves: "What are the impressions that cling to my mind, and how can I let them go?" By recognizing the things that disturb their peace, they can begin to release their grip on the mind. Then, they can focus on the present moment, doing what is right, and accepting what happens with equanimity.
As Marcus Aurelius suggests, the goal is to become "a sphere rejoicing in its perfect stillness." This image conveys a sense of inner peace and stability, which can be achieved by cultivating a clear and focused mind. By living in the present and letting go of external influences, one can spend their time in "tranquillity. And in kindness. And at peace with the spirit within" them.
What is one thing you can let go of today to free your mind and live more in the present?