Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Of these the two former, are so far…
Of these the two former, are so far forth thine, as that thou art bound to take care for them. But the third alone is that which is properly thine.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Marcus is drawing a boundary around responsibility. Some things deserve our care, but only one area is fully ours: the use of our own mind. We can influence our body through sleep, exercise, and treatment, but not command it never to fail. We can contribute to our relationships and work, but not control their outcomes. Our judgments, intentions, and choices are the closest thing we have to a possession. This is not a reason to neglect everything else. It is a reason to stop carrying responsibility in the wrong place. You can prepare thoroughly for an interview and still not receive the offer. You can love someone well and still lose them. The work is to care without claiming ownership of results. Today, separate what you can govern from what you can only influence. Put effort into the first and release your grip on the second.
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