Obstacles on the Path to Transformation
Marcus Aurelius' keys to adversity during the transformative process
As we discussed last week, the transformative self happens when one encounters a situation or event that fundamentally challenges and changes the individual. The event itself is often not easy and it is through the struggle that we are transformed —we are transformed in a fundamental way where a previously held belief is altered and sets a new direction for us.
Life is often spent going against the grain rather than finding the right groove. It is hard and filled with obstacle after obstacle. But within those obstacles are the opportunities which we find the ability to grow and be transformed.
Marcus Aurelius, while commanding his army and fighting at the borders of Rome, wrote to himself the following reminder:
“Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it - turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself - so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal.”
It is not about looking at the obstacle and having a blanket belief that things will work out fine, unfortunately, sometimes things do not work out, and they are incredibly painful. Rather, what Marcus is referencing is the ability to see that pain, to understand that the obstacle within his path can lead to changes within himself, that within the obstacle he uses it to, in some way, be transformed and in the process, overcome it.
Throughout the Meditations, Marcus lays out mental frameworks on how to approach events like this.
Remember, it is endurable
One of the more important ideas Marcus reminds himself of in the Meditations is that the obstacle within his way is endurable, especially if others before him have endured it.
“Nothing happens to anyone that he can't endure. The same happens to other people, and they weather it unharmed.”
By reminding himself that others too have endured the same hardship, he is able to understand that while an obstacle may seem insurmountable in a moment, it is possible to overcome it. Like having idols who do the things we wish to do, Marcus is able to refocus his attention on overcoming the obstacle and not the obstacle itself by reminding himself others too have been here and others too have overcome this.
If we lose our job? Well, while it is painful, others have endured this and found a new one (potentially even better). We breakup with a loved one? Others too have faced the challenge and overcome it.
Life holds very hard obstacles that each and every one of us will encounter — but hard is not the same as impossible.
Elsewhere in Meditations he summarizes the idea again, stating:
“Not to assume it's impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it's humanly possible, you can do it too.”
Lean into yourself
Stoicism as a whole is a framework for building a person of character. The four virtues of Justice, Temperance, Courage, and Wisdom are the four foundations the Stoics believed built the ideal character of an individual.
If one is working on themselves and properly studying philosophy, then when one encounters an obstacle, it is not about shying away from it or finding a crutch, rather, it is leaning into oneself, into the character they have developed, to help overcome the obstacle.
“When jarred, unavoidably, by circumstances, revert at once to yourself, and don't lose the rhythm more than you can help. You'll have a better grasp of the harmony if you keep on going back to it.”
You have the ability fall back on your trainings, to remind yourself of the true nature of who you are and what you represent. If you are in pursuit daily of the four virtues, then in trying times you will lean into that framework that has helped to build you, that has reinforced your mentality and beliefs of the world.
It is when we do not have a stable base that we falter during times of adversity.
Keep an Appropriate Outlook
Epictetus taught his students that it is through our interpretation of events and not the events themselves that we are injured.
Marcus, reminding himself of the teachings of Epictetus, likewise set himself a reminder of this, writing:
“It Doesn't hurt me unless I interpret its happening as harmful to me. I can choose not to.”
By reminding himself that it is up to him to decide how he views the event, he is able to cutoff wandering thoughts that may apply negative attributes to the task at hand and instead can reframe his mind to overcoming what stood before him.
It is in fact both Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius who help to inspired Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy’s (CBT) founder Aaron Beck. Much of CBT focuses on the idea that our behaviors lead to thoughts and those thoughts give rise to feelings which then direct how we behave. But, like the Stoics suggested, if we are able to reframe the thoughts, then the feelings that follow transform our behaviors and lead to different outcomes — it breaks the cycle we previously held.
As Marcus reminded himself, the obstacle is there to help us learn about ourselves and, in turn, overcome the obstacle. Like a plant being blocked by an object from the sunlight it needs, the plant will grow to overcome that object and get the sunlight it thrives on to survive. We too have the ability to overcome the obstacles that stand in our way and strengthen our core self in the process.
Thank you again for reading and I hope you found this useful. Please feel free to heart, comment, or ask questions about this post. Suggestions are always appreciated and considered.
Until next week,
D.A. DiGerolamo