Portland OR sunset from Sarah Iannarone
Take a view from above — look at the thousands of flocks and herds, the thousands of human ceremonies, every sort of voyage in storm or calm, the range of creation, combination, and extinction. Consider too the lives once lived by others long before you, the lives that will be lived after you, the lives lived now among foreign tribes; and how many have never even heard your name, how many will soon forget it, how many may praise you now but quickly turn to blame. Reflect that neither memory nor fame, nor anything else at all, has any importance worth thinking of. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 9.28
To say that there is a lot going on right now is a wild understatement. I know that life is throwing everything at me in this moment, and you might be having a similar experience. Most of the issues of the day are outside of my control, but there are some that I choose to engage with. That involvement can become stressful. When we engage with life skillfully, we may get tired, but also find satisfaction; like the relaxed soreness we might feel at the end of a good workout. But it’s easy to misalign ourselves with life, which can build up a deep stress that causes harm and makes us useless to ourselves and others.
A technique that helps me remain in the good flow of life is the view from above. You can see it laid out in Marcus Aurelius’ quote at the beginning of this post. It’s a practice that helps put our personal problems, and the world’s problems, into a wider, cosmic perspective. I’ve discussed this practice here: Good Fortune, Ep 2: A Stoic Start to the Day. If the stuff of life is burdening you now, I suggest taking some time to practice the view from above. Expand your view until your troubles seem small, and let the stress wash away.
Of course you need to come back. You must choose your path, and walk it. Life is still here, requiring your participation. But how lovely it is to reengage refreshed and renewed. It’s good for you and for those that you meet.
Last night my city was roiling. Cries for justice were met with all the more injustice. Hope. Fear. Love. Hate. All clashing. And in this modern world I could see not just my home but so many other peoples homes. So much was happening that it blurred the eyes. Above all this the sky was beautiful. Sometimes we have to step back and take in that sky before we can refocus on the earth with clear eyes. Don’t neglect to do just that.
