There was a fascinating article recently written in business insider about Marcus Aurelius and the self talk he used to give himself when he struggled to wake up in the morning. It appears that even Roman Emperors had to psych themselves up some times.
Here are some quotes from the man himself:
At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’
— But it’s nicer in here …
So you were born to feel ‘nice’? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?
— But we have to sleep sometime …
Agreed. But nature set a limit on that — as it did on eating and drinking. And you’re over the limit. You’ve had more than enough of that. But not of working. There you’re still below your quota.
You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you. People who love what they do wear themselves down doing it, they even forget to wash or eat. Do you have less respect for your own nature than the engraver does for engraving, the dancer for the dance, the miser for money or the social climber for status? When they’re really possessed by what they do, they’d rather stop eating and sleeping than give up practicing their arts.
Is helping others less valuable to you? Not worth your effort?
Marcus ruled from 161 to 180 A.D. and wrote what became ‘Meditations’ sometime during the last decade of his life.
Check out the article here: Click Here!
And as you can see positive self talk was even important for emperors back in the day. How do you psych yourself up in the mornings? Post comments below!
May 18th, 2015 WOD
Strength:
Snatch
Met Con:
250m row
DB Thrusters x 30
5 rounds for time
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