☀️ Stoic Morning Minute: The 5-Minute Morning Practice That Even Busy Emperors Swore By

💭 Modern Translation

Marcus Aurelius—literally running the Roman Empire—still started each day with a mental rehearsal. Not with "You got this!" affirmations, but by acknowledging the difficult people and situations he'd likely face. Why? Because anticipating challenges isn't pessimism—it's preparation. When the inevitable frustrations arrived, he wasn't surprised or reactive; he was ready.

⚡️ Your Move

Try this 3-minute Stoic morning ritual before checking your phone today (obviously, after reading your favorite newsletter):

• Sit with your coffee and ask: "What's likely to frustrate me today?"

• For each scenario, decide: "How will my best self respond?"

• Remind yourself: "People will act according to their nature, not my expectations"

• Set one specific intention: "Today I will practice patience when [specific situation] happens"

🤔 Today's Question

What one challenging situation do you know you'll face today that you could mentally prepare for right now?

Win you day,

Jon

—Today’s newsletter is sponsored by MECO.

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