Thanks for this insightful post, Brittany. Marcus is surely a great literary artist, and you have highlighted some of his most vivid passages. I think that while it's clear that Marcus regarded Hadrian's political legacy as dubious, spending much of his adolescence at Hadrian's villa at Tivoli will have afforded an education in stupendous beauty, both natural and human-designed - as that wonderful site still is.
Thanks for the feedback, Judy. I would love to hear more about your trip following in Marcus's footsteps and how that helped your understanding of his Stoicism. He certainly had an exceptional life, which I think makes it even more amazing that people throughout the centuries have connected so strongly with his meditations. Marcus never ceases to amaze me!
I thoroughly enjoyed your piece on Marcus Aurelius for sensitive Stoics. Your exploration of sensory processing sensitivity, combined with Stoic philosophy, offers valuable insights. The practical advice on managing overstimulation and emotional reactivity is particularly helpful. Your writing beautifully highlights how sensitivity can be a strength. I am an enthusiastic amateur but love reading the whole area.
Terrific post on a fascinating topic… even just a cursory reading about other Roman emperors reveals how unique Marcus was… I sometimes think that Stoicism, and similarly mindfulness training, helps us to be both more -and less -sensitive at the same time…another paradox of the spiritual path… thank you
Sensitivity is a fascinating topic about which a lot could be said. Quality of life is determined by what one is sensitive to and or what one needs to be sensitive to.
Thank you, Brittany. Excellent points and useful advice in this article. A question: you wrote
"When you are highly attuned to the people and events around you, you become overly susceptible to the vagaries of fortune: the suffering of other people, the potential for beauty that isn’t fulfilled"...
What do you mean by 'the potential for beauty that isn't fulfilled'?
Thanks, Sibbs! It's just a minor point, but I often find myself thinking about the beauty that might have been if someone had properly cared for that historic home or that polluted stream. Or the happiness a person could have had if she'd only thought a little more carefully about her actions. Maybe it's just me, but I sometimes fixate on the lost potential of something rather than what's actually there, and then I feel distressed that there is so much pointless waste and loss. But it's not good to constantly be sad about things I can't control, so this is something I have to fix in my own character!
Thanks for this insightful post, Brittany. Marcus is surely a great literary artist, and you have highlighted some of his most vivid passages. I think that while it's clear that Marcus regarded Hadrian's political legacy as dubious, spending much of his adolescence at Hadrian's villa at Tivoli will have afforded an education in stupendous beauty, both natural and human-designed - as that wonderful site still is.
Thanks for the feedback, Judy. I would love to hear more about your trip following in Marcus's footsteps and how that helped your understanding of his Stoicism. He certainly had an exceptional life, which I think makes it even more amazing that people throughout the centuries have connected so strongly with his meditations. Marcus never ceases to amaze me!
I thoroughly enjoyed your piece on Marcus Aurelius for sensitive Stoics. Your exploration of sensory processing sensitivity, combined with Stoic philosophy, offers valuable insights. The practical advice on managing overstimulation and emotional reactivity is particularly helpful. Your writing beautifully highlights how sensitivity can be a strength. I am an enthusiastic amateur but love reading the whole area.
Thank you, Jon! Glad you found this post useful.
Good read! Also important to go against people who misinterpret Stoic philosophy and engage in “tough guy Broicism”, lol.
Oh, love this. Thank you! 💙
Terrific post on a fascinating topic… even just a cursory reading about other Roman emperors reveals how unique Marcus was… I sometimes think that Stoicism, and similarly mindfulness training, helps us to be both more -and less -sensitive at the same time…another paradox of the spiritual path… thank you
Thank you, Tim!
Sensitivity is a fascinating topic about which a lot could be said. Quality of life is determined by what one is sensitive to and or what one needs to be sensitive to.
Thank you, Brittany. Excellent points and useful advice in this article. A question: you wrote
"When you are highly attuned to the people and events around you, you become overly susceptible to the vagaries of fortune: the suffering of other people, the potential for beauty that isn’t fulfilled"...
What do you mean by 'the potential for beauty that isn't fulfilled'?
Thanks, Sibbs! It's just a minor point, but I often find myself thinking about the beauty that might have been if someone had properly cared for that historic home or that polluted stream. Or the happiness a person could have had if she'd only thought a little more carefully about her actions. Maybe it's just me, but I sometimes fixate on the lost potential of something rather than what's actually there, and then I feel distressed that there is so much pointless waste and loss. But it's not good to constantly be sad about things I can't control, so this is something I have to fix in my own character!