Hi Thrive community,
In times of stress and uncertainty, sage words from great thinkers of the past can help ground us, inspire us, and put things into much-needed perspective. I find this quote from the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, one of Stoicism's most famous practitioners, particularly poignant today: "You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." And, as Thrive's founder and CEO Arianna Huffington recently wrote, "The Delphic admonition "Know Thyself" and Socrates' admonition that "the unexamined life is not worth living" are not ancient philosophical platitudes, but in fact the most relevant and important guiding truths for our lives, especially now."
Today, I'd love for you to share the pieces of ancient wisdom that are inspiring you during today's challenging times — and tell us how they're shifting your perspective.
Is there an ancient quote that's helped you navigate through these difficult times or felt particularly poignant during the pandemic? Has an inspiring quote from a philosopher become your daily mantra? Tell us which piece of ancient wisdom you find particularly resonant or inspiring today, and why.
Please write back to this email with your brief responses (no attachments please!)
A few guidelines for these:
- Please include your first and last name (or initials), as well as your career field and city/state/country, like this: —Jane Smith, corporate attorney, Atlanta, GA
- Please keep responses to around 300 words. We may edit them for length or clarity if we include them in a story. (If you feel compelled to write a longer post on this topic, feel free to do so!)
- Deadline for responses: 9 AM EST on Monday, June 1st
With all the stress, anxiety, social distancing and isolation stemming from the coronavirus, the need to connect with each other is more critical than ever. Join our dedicated Facebook group to stay connected with others and share your challenges and best tips for dealing with our new normal.
Please know that while I read each and every one of your responses and am grateful for the time you took to craft them, I won't be able to write back personally. But you can check here for the latest roundups, which feature my favorite nuggets of wisdom for each topic!
