☀️ Stoic Morning Minute: View From Above

A 60-second reset for when life feels overwhelming

Author

Jon High
March 14, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

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Look at the sky, remind yourself of the vastness of the universe, and consider your true place within it.

Marcus Aurelius

After a week of back-to-back meetings, impossible deadlines, and that coworker who keeps "forgetting" to do their part of the project, your brain deserves better than carrying all that stress into your weekend.

Enter the ancient Stoic practice that's basically a mental decluttering button:

The View From Above

Marcus Aurelius used this mental trick to handle everything from battlefield decisions to palace drama. It's simple:

  1. Start where you are—see yourself sitting at your desk, stuck in traffic, wherever

  2. Now zoom out—see your building, your neighborhood

  3. Keep going—your city, country, continent

  4. Further still—Earth becoming a pale blue dot, our solar system, our galaxy...

From this cosmic vantage point, ask: "How significant is this problem really?"

This isn't about dismissing your feelings. It's about right-sizing your problems so they don't consume you.

Take 60 seconds for this mental reset before heading home. Your Saturday morning self will thank you.

Enjoy,

Jon