Marcus Aurelius gives us a recipe for happiness in Meditations 2.16.

Caleb breaks down the four ways we do the exact opposite: fighting reality, turning away from others, being ruled by pleasure and pain, and acting without purpose. Sometimes the best path to happiness isn’t chasing it directly, but removing what makes us miserable.

(01:00) The Four Items: A Recipe for Happiness

(03:50) First: Stop Fighting Reality

(05:50) Second: Live Well With Others

(09:30) Third: Don’t Be Ruled by Pleasure or Pain

(11:00) Fourth: Act With Purpose

(13:10) Closing Reading of Meditations 2.16

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod

If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account.

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations:

https://ancientlyre.com/

Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe