Surviving Work Using Stoicism: What Would Marcus Aurelius Do?
I hate my job
That is to say, right now I hate my job.
Tomorrow I’ll probably love it again, but today it sucks. I could bore you with the reasons but I’m sure it’s a sentiment that you’ve shared at some point recently. You know how it is.
The thing is, I know that deep within me I have the answers to dealing with this feeling — and it all boils down to not allowing the things that annoy me in my job to grind me down. In philosophical terms, that’s Stoicism — the closest thing I’ve ever found to a religion that seems to help me get by in this world.
Don’t let it get you down
In the bustling corridors of our workplaces, we often encounter a myriad of challenges that test our patience, resilience, and peace of mind. From the seemingly endless stream of emails to the unexpected demands from colleagues, the workplace can feel like a battlefield. It is in these moments that the ancient wisdom of Stoicism, particularly the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, can provide a guiding light.
Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, once advised:
“Begin each day by telling yourself: Today I shall be meeting with interference…
