Marcus Aurelius didn't have Slack notifications. He didn't deal with endless Zoom calls or inbox zero anxiety.
But his frameworks for handling chaos? They still work.
Stoicism isn't about suppressing emotions or becoming a robot. It's about clarity in chaos—knowing what you control, what you don't, and where to focus your energy.
Here are three Stoic frameworks you can apply today.
Framework 1: The Dichotomy of Control
The principle: Focus only on what you can control. Let go of everything else.
Marcus Aurelius wrote: "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."
How to apply it:
When something goes wrong (a client cancels, a project fails, someone criticizes your work), ask yourself:
- Can I control this? If yes, take action.
- Can I not control this? If no, let it go.
Most stress comes from trying to control things outside your domain—other people's opinions, market conditions, the algorithm. Sovereigns focus on their territory. Subjects waste energy on everything else.
Your move: Write down three things stressing you out right now. Circle the ones you can actually control. Cross out the rest. Stop thinking about them.
Framework 2: Negative Visualization (Premeditatio Malorum)
The principle: Imagine the worst-case scenario before it happens. Prepare for chaos before it arrives.
Seneca wrote: "He who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive."
How to apply it:
Before a big meeting, product launch, or difficult conversation, spend 5 minutes visualizing what could go wrong:
- What if the client says no?
- What if the launch flops?
- What if they reject my idea?
Then ask: How would I handle it?
This isn't pessimism. It's strategic preparation. When you've already mentally rehearsed failure, it loses its power over you.
Your move: Before your next high-stakes moment, write down the worst-case scenario and your response. When chaos hits, you'll already have a plan.
Framework 3: Memento Mori (Remember You Will Die)
The principle: Your time is finite. Act accordingly.
Marcus Aurelius wrote: "You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think."
How to apply it:
This isn't morbid. It's clarifying.
When you remember that your time is limited, trivial decisions become obvious:
- Should I spend 2 hours doomscrolling? No.
- Should I avoid that hard conversation? No.
- Should I wait for the "perfect moment" to start? No.
Memento Mori forces you to ask: If I only had one year left, would I spend it doing this?
If the answer is no, stop doing it.
Your move: Set a daily reminder on your phone: "Memento Mori." Let it interrupt you. Let it recalibrate your priorities.
The Stoic Workspace
These frameworks aren't abstract philosophy. They're daily tools.
Apply them to your workspace, your calendar, your decision-making:
- Dichotomy of Control: Focus on your work, not the algorithm.
- Negative Visualization: Plan for failure before it happens.
- Memento Mori: Eliminate distractions. Your time is finite.
The Court was built on these principles. Join us if you're ready to apply them.
— House Aranwè
Choose to Ascend.