How often do you think about the Roman Empire?

[SPOILER: Every Day]

"Ladies, many of you do not realize how often men think about the Roman Empire.”

This statement recently ignited a viral TikTok trend where women ask their boyfriends, husbands, & fathers, “How often do you think about the Roman Empire?”

I think about the Roman Empire every single day because…

(but mostly because I love Stoicism)

Here are some helpful ideas from the Stoics…

Do It Now (whatever it is)

“You could be good today. But instead you choose tomorrow.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Putting things off is the biggest waste of life.” — Seneca

For a long time I subscribed to the “Diet starts Monday” mentality. Sunday night was a huge cheat meal and then I’d start “clean” and “fresh” on Monday, inevitably “mess up,” and repeat the cycle. This happened 250+ times over the years.

What are you continually putting off that you could start right now?

Progress over Perfection

“Be satisfied with even the smallest progress. You're never going to be perfect— there is no such thing. You're human. So instead, aim for progress, even the smallest amount.” — Marcus Aurelius
What progress have i made? I have begun to be a friend to myself.” — Seneca

“Be satisfied with even the smallest progress. You're never going to be perfect— there is no such thing. You're human. So instead, aim for progress, even the smallest amount.” — Marcus Aurelius
"What progress have i made? I have begun to be a friend to myself.” — Seneca

"If you get one percent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done. This is why small choices don’t make much of a difference at the time, but add up over the long-term.” — James Clear

Stack Your Wins!

“Well-being is realized by small steps but is truly no small thing.” — Zeno
“You have to assemble your life yourself, action by action.” — Marcus Aurelius
"If your choices are beautiful, so too will you be.” — Epictetus

“Life is a sum of all your choices.” — Albert Camus

Your nice little body is a sum of all your choices (barring things that are truly out of your control).

Chart Your Course… (but also go with the flow)

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus
“What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him.” — Viktor Frankl
“No great thing is created suddenly.” — Epictetus

I’ve shared this before, but Neil sums it up perfectly.

“If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone.” — Marcus Aurelius

Like Marcus, I’m after the truth. I have my methods/principles/systems, but I’m always willing to change course for the better.

Love Yourself Right Now

"If what you have seems insufficient to you, then though you possess the world, you will yet be miserable.” — Seneca

If you don’t love your nice little body right now, you most likely won’t when you reach your goal. Love yourself now. Be a great friend to yourself now, while moving toward your goals.

Feel Great

Rock a Nice Little Bod

“Happy is the man who can make others better, not merely when he is in their company, but even when he is in their thoughts!” — Seneca

Think of me giving you a spot whenever you need to squeeze out another rep or two. I got your back!

Enjoy Life

“Don’t seek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will— then your life will flow well.” — Epictetus

“That one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backwards, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it….but love it.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

Amor Fati. A love of fate. Embrace every moment—no matter how challenging—and use it to become better. Like most things, it’s easier said than done. But, if something’s out of your control, amor fati is the only response. Don’t just accept it, love it. Learn from it. Grow from it.

Don’t just accept it, love it!

Nice Little Body of the Week

Gladiator A.K.A. Maximus Decimus Meridius A.K.A. Muscle Crowe… Commander of the Armies of the North. General of the Felix Legions. Loyal servant to the true Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Eargasm of the Week

Thank you for reading.

feel great. rock a nice little bod. enjoy life.

steve