When we begin our day with simple, good things, they can set up a strong foundation. They guard us when the world wants to tell us something different. There is joy to be had in the world. Listen for it.

Stoic philosopher Seneca believed that tranquility can’t be achieved when we’re concerned about the opinion of others. We make decisions based on other people’s approval of us rather then speak from a place of integrity. We cultivate integrity through self-awareness and solitude.

So often we spend too much time yearning for the past or anticipating the future. We want the present moment to be different than it is. And when that moment is gone, we want it back. Savor something in this moment.

I want to spit every time someone tells me to smile when I’m hurting. When you’re suffering, it indeed is difficult to smile. After the sting subsides, we can investigate our suffering and find the path of transformation. This is the essence of Buddhism—the Four Noble Truths. It takes courage and patience, but you’ll get there.

How well do you know yourself? So often we move about the world thinking we’re innocent and others are guilty. We don’t see how our behavior might hurt or offend others. Our reactions are telltale signs of our character. They tell us what role we choose to play and what we choose to hide.

Faith isn’t about security. Faith gives you the confidence to step forward in a new direction, on a new road. You realize that the safe route has always left you exhausted, so faith lifts you and carries you.

It’s easy to throw up your arms and say, “The world sucks.” That attitude gives you the liberty to wash your hands of any responsibility to fixing what is broken. Marcus Aurelius gives us these three virtues to guide us in the present moment. Peace be with you.

When you lose someone you love, the suffering is immense. We can’t race through the grief. Although there’s no proof of heaven, the idea of heaven can carry us through the grief process. The idea of heaven allows us to savor the love and the memories.

We feel happiness usually as a result of an event or intimate episode. But pure joy is uncaused, that is, it emerges when the mind isn’t searching for it. You don’t seek it—instead, you discover it’s there all along when the mind no longer clings.

How often we spend time and effort with words! We use them to both comfort and accuse. However, they can’t replace the experience of the present moment. The word “bird” can’t tell us much about hearing birdsong. When we speak less and experience more, we’re living in mindfulness.