What Write You, Marcus?
Running Your Empire
First off, let’s be clear: writing and journaling aren’t just about putting fancy words on paper. They’re a mental workout, a kind of intellectual CrossFit. Every day you’re lifting the weights of your thoughts, honing your mind’s agility. It’s like sharpening a blade — the more you do it, the more incisive your thinking becomes.
Now, let’s talk about Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic philosopher-king. This guy didn’t just run an empire; he ran his mind like a tight ship. His journal, “Meditations,” is not some ancient relic; it’s a playbook for mental resilience. By writing daily, Aurelius was doing mental push-ups, prepping himself for the onslaught of challenges that come with being, well, the most powerful man in the known world.
Clarity Is King, Queen, Emperor, Empress, or CEO
What’s the big deal with writing every day?
Clarity, my friends. It’s like having a daily meeting with yourself. You’re the CEO of your life, and these writing sessions? They’re your strategy meetings. You get to reflect, strategize, and sometimes, call yourself out on your own BS. It’s about self-awareness, understanding your motivations, fears, and aspirations. In today’s world, where attention is fragmented like a shattered iPhone screen, having that laser focus on your inner thoughts is like finding a Wi-Fi signal in the wilderness.
What’s the ROI on writing every day? Huge. It’s about gaining clarity in a world that’s as chaotic as a Times Square billboard. Every day, your brain is bombarded with information, much of it as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Writing? It cuts through that noise. It’s like a daily detox for your brain, filtering out the junk and keeping what matters.
Imagine you’re the CEO of the biggest startup ever: Your Life, Inc.
Now, what do all successful CEOs do? They strategize, they plan, they reflect. That’s your daily writing session. It’s not some tree-hugging exercise. It’s hardcore strategy. You’re mapping out your life, setting goals, and identifying key performance indicators for personal success. It’s you, in your executive suite (even if that’s just a corner of your studio apartment), plotting the next big move.
Fuck the BS
Now, let’s talk about calling out your own BS.
We all have an inner spin doctor, turning our failures into “strategic pivots” and our fears into “areas for growth.” Writing every day strips that away. It forces you to look in the mirror and have an honest conversation with the person who matters most: you. It’s like a daily performance review where you’re both the boss and the employee. Tough? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.
Self-Awareness Radar In Full Effect
Self-awareness is the name of the game here. Real self-awareness is as rare as a unicorn in a world where everyone’s curating their Instagram to look like they’re on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. By writing daily, you’re tuning into your own frequency. You’re not just skimming through your thoughts; you’re deep diving into them. You get to understand your motivations — why you do what you do — and your fears, which often are as baseless as believing you’ll win the lottery.
Let’s not forget about attention, our most depleted resource. We live in an age where people have the attention span of a goldfish on Red Bull. Writing every day? It’s like training your attention muscle. You’re not just flitting from one thought to another; you’re focused, concentrated. It’s about cultivating a deep focus in a shallow world. Like I said: finding a Wi-Fi signal in the wilderness, it connects you to what’s essential — your thoughts, your values, your goals.
In essence, writing daily is about taking control. It’s about not letting the chaos of the world dictate your narrative. It’s about being proactive, not reactive. It’s about becoming the architect of your destiny, not just a passenger on the journey of life. So, pick up that pen, open that laptop, and start writing. It’s not just a habit; it’s your daily strategy session for a life well-lived.
Who Runs Your PR?
Journaling is also your personal PR firm. It helps craft your narrative, understand your story. We’re all walking, talking brands in the digital age. Understanding your story, owning it, and maybe even rewriting parts of it, is essential. Marcus Aurelius did it. He wasn’t just writing for himself; he was crafting the narrative of a wise and just emperor. Whether he was facing a barbarian invasion or a political intrigue, his journal was where he honed his image, first to himself, then to the world.
A Deeper Dive
Alright, let’s dive deeper into this concept. Remember, in the age of relentless branding and self-promotion, your biggest asset isn’t just your skill set or your network; it’s your story. And who’s in charge of that? You. Through journaling, you’re essentially running your own personal PR firm.
Now, let’s break this down. In today’s hyper-connected, digital-first world, every tweet, every LinkedIn post, every Instagram story is a part of your narrative. But here’s the kicker: if you don’t take control of that narrative, someone else will. That’s where journaling steps in. It’s not just scribbling in a diary; it’s strategic narrative development.
Again, I think of Marcus Aurelius. This guy wasn’t just fighting off invasions and managing a vast empire; he was meticulously crafting his image, his brand, through his writings. He understood something crucial: narratives have power. His journal wasn’t just a collection of personal reflections; it was a tool to build the persona of a philosopher-king, a wise and just ruler. He was managing his legacy, one page at a time.
In your journal, you get to be brutally honest with yourself. No filters, no likes, no retweets. It’s just you and your raw, unpolished thoughts. This is where you confront your weaknesses, acknowledge your strengths, and set the stage for personal growth. But it’s more than self-improvement; it’s about crafting how you want to be seen in the world.
Your personal narrative is like a startup. You’re constantly pitching it — to your boss, your colleagues, your social media followers. And like any good startup founder, you need to refine your pitch, understand your value proposition, and know your audience. Your journal is your sandbox for this. You test out ideas, refine your story, and emerge with a clear, compelling narrative.
And remember, in the age of cancel culture and public call-outs, controlling your narrative is not just about advancement; it’s about survival. Your journal is your crisis management team. It’s where you tackle your controversies, your missteps, before they go public. You get to script your comeback, your redemption arc, in these pages before the world scripts it for you.
Think of your journal as your personal brand workshop. It’s where you build, refine, and sometimes, rebrand yourself. In a world where perception is reality, your journal is the tool that shapes that perception. So, who runs your PR? You do. And your journal is your boardroom. Now go out there, write your story, and make Marcus Aurelius proud.
Resilience
Lastly, it’s about resilience. Writing daily is like building an emotional immune system. You face the chaos of your thoughts, organize them, and come out stronger. Aurelius faced wars, plagues, and betrayal. His journal was his fortress, a place to retreat and emerge stronger. For us mortals, it’s no different. Whether it’s a tough day at the office, a global pandemic, or just the grind of daily life, your journal is where you build your mental fortitude.
We’re talking about the raw, unfiltered power of bouncing back, not just surviving but thriving in the face of adversity.
Writing daily?
It’s not just a habit.
It’s akin to constructing an emotional skyscraper, floor by floor, in your psyche.
Battle Armor Up and Shields Down
Resilience, folks, is your armor in the battle of life. It’s not about avoiding the hits; it’s about taking them and still moving forward. And how do you forge this armor? Through the daily ritual of writing. When you spill your thoughts onto a page, you’re not just scribbling words. You’re engaging in a form of mental combat training. Each word is a sword stroke against the dragons of doubt, fear, and uncertainty.
Marcus Aurelius, he wasn’t just a philosopher; he was a warrior of the mind. His journal was his dojo, his training ground. Facing wars, plagues, and the ultimate betrayal, he turned to his writings to make sense of the chaos. This wasn’t just navel-gazing; this was strategic reflection, the kind that turns leaders into legends.
Think about it. In our hyper-competitive, always-on world, resilience is your most valuable currency. It’s not about how many times you get knocked down. It’s about how many times you get back up, and what you learn in the process. Your journal? It’s your coach, your mentor, your cornerman, all rolled into one.
Writing daily forces you to confront the chaos of your inner world. It’s easy to get lost in the labyrinth of your mind. But when you write, you map out that labyrinth. You identify the monsters lurking in the shadows. You plot your course. And, most importantly, you find your way out stronger, wiser, and more resilient.
This process of building resilience through writing, it’s not for the faint of heart. It requires brutal honesty, relentless self-examination, and an unwavering commitment to personal growth. But the payoff? It’s immeasurable. You develop an emotional immune system so robust that when life throws its worst at you — be it a personal crisis, a professional setback, or a global calamity — you’re ready to face it head-on.
In summary, resilience through daily writing is about transforming your struggles into strength. It’s about becoming the architect of your emotional fortress, where each word adds to your defense against life’s slings and arrows. Aurelius knew this secret, and now, so do you. So, grab that pen, face those inner demons, and start building your resilience, one word at a time. Because in the economy of life, resilience is the ultimate capital.
A Survival Skill
In short, writing and journaling daily? It’s not just a habit. It’s a survival skill in the high-stakes game of life. Marcus Aurelius knew it. The smartest minds today know it. So, grab a pen, open a notebook, and start writing. It’s not just about words; it’s about wielding the power of your mind, understanding your narrative, and building resilience. It’s your daily training session for the intellect, your strategy meeting for personal growth, and your private counsel in times of chaos.
Remember, in this hyper-connected world, the most important connection is the one you have with yourself. And that, my friends, is where writing and journaling come in. They’re not just tools; they’re weapons for the modern gladiator in the arena of life. Marcus Aurelius, with his timeless wisdom, showed us the way. Now, it’s your turn. Write, reflect, grow. That’s the YOUR way of conquering the world, one page at a time.
Brian Fink is the author of the upcoming book The Main Thing is The Main Thing. It’s his way of galvanizing your focus to bring your life’s work to reality. Fink’s impassioned wit and humor tackle the highs and lows of dispelling the constant barrage of interruptions, pings, and distractions that take you away from realizing your main thing.
