“All you need are these:
certainty of judgment in the present moment;
action for the common good in the present moment;
and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way”–Marcus Aurelius Meditations 9.6
Marcus Aurelius makes it easy today. He lays out the three basic pillars of his entire take on stoicism:
Control your perceptions
Direct your action properly
Willingly accept what’s outside your control
Put still more colloquially; Things are what you make them, Treat others as you would wish to be treated, except that which is out of our control.
What more do we need to do to gain tranquility? If we are able to completely control our perceptions of events, we will never feel sadness, fear, or anger. If we treat others justly, we’ll never make anyone else feel those negative emotions. And if we accept that which we cannot change, we will be able to dedicate ourselves entirely to those things that are truly important.
Of course, all of this is far easier said than done, but we can work on it. Through practice, reflection, study, and mindfulness, we can sharpen and hone our perceptions, actions, and acceptance. It’s a process, but if today I get .01% better, then I have won today.