Big Idea - Marcus Aurelius: For What Were You Made?

"Everything - a horse, a vine - is created for some duty...For what task, then, were you yourself created? A man's true delight is to do the things he was made for." ~ Marcus Aurelius from Meditations

As you know if you've read any of these Notes, we come back to the idea that we all have a unique purpose again...and again... and again! From Seligman's science of happiness (know your strengths and use them often!) to the Buddha's admonition to discover your work and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it.

So, the constant question: For what were you created?!? What makes you feel most alive? If you had all the money and all the time in the world, what would you do? What are you doing when time simply evaporates for you? What are your greatest gifts and how are you giving them to the world?!?

ALL the great teachers advise us to ask the same questions!!!

As the Buddha says, "Our work is to discover our work, and then, with all our hearts, to give ourselves to it!"

I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
- Pablo Picasso

"Your purpose is to act on the resources God gives you. If God gives you a bucket of fish, you have to distribute those fish. If you don't, they're going to rot, attract a bunch of flies, and start stinking up your soul." ~ Russell Simmons from Do You!

Love that.

Don't believe Simmons? How about Joseph Campbell?

--> "To refuse the call means stagnation. What you don't experience positively you will experience negatively."

Not good enough? How about Abraham Maslow?

--> "What one can be, one must be!"

Still not enough? What about Jesus (from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas)?

--> "If you bring forth what is inside you, what you bring forth will save you. If you don't bring forth what is inside you, what you don't bring forth will destroy you."

We have gifts to give to the world.

Let's (!!!) GIVE THEM!!!

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus”.

Bruce Lee

"May my words be succulent today should I have to eat them tomorrow."

"Dream as though you would live forever. Live as if you would die tomorrow."

"Put Off Procrastination"

"If you had $12 million in the bank and you had 12 months left to live, what 3 things would you do differently beginning tomorrow...?"

So... what would you do differently?

No matter how much I would like it, I don't expect to suddenly receive $12 million tomorrow. And, the reality of life is - I don't know how long I may live and it may be shorter than 12 months.

Prayer and Meditation

I pray to speak to God

I meditate to listen

--Peggy Hartford
(colleague at Wells Fargo)

If there were no God, there would be no Atheists.
- G. K. Chesterton

"Iron is full of impurities that weaken it;
through forging, it becomes steel and is transformed into a razor-sharp sword.
Human beings develop in the same fashion."

~ Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of the Martial Art of Aikido from The Art of Peace

I was always taught to respect my elders and I've now reached the age when I don't have anybody to respect.
  - George Burns

When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.
- Thomas Szasz

Death is life's greatest invention

Steve Jobs

Serbian proverb

Be humble for you are made of earth

Be noble for you are made of stars

Big problems

If you have a big problem in your life, all that means is that you are being a small person!

~T. Harv Eker

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus”.
Bruce Lee

"May my words be succulent today should I have to eat them tomorrow."

"Dream as though you would live forever. Live as if you would die tomorrow."