This week, I’ve been reflecting on how much power I give to things that probably don’t deserve it.

Reading Marcus Aurelius, I’m reminded of a blunt but useful practice—strip things down to what they really are. Not what I’ve made them out to be, not the story I attach to them, but their basic nature.

When I do that, a lot of what I chase starts to look… smaller.

I spend money on collectibles, little things that give me a quick hit of satisfaction. In the moment, they feel meaningful. But when I step back, they’re just objects—things I’ve assigned value to. Meanwhile, the things that would actually improve my life, like reliable transportation or a stable living situation, get pushed aside.

That’s hard to admit.

Because it means I’m not just struggling with money—I’m struggling with what I choose to value.

The Stoics talk about focusing on a few real goods: wisdom, self-control, justice, and courage. And when I compare that to how I’ve been living, I can see the gap. My attention is scattered. My goals shift. I chase what feels good in the moment instead of what actually matters long-term.

It’s no wonder I feel stuck.

A big part of that comes down to attention. I lose it constantly. Whether it’s podcasts, games, or scrolling, I’m almost always distracting myself from reality. And the more I do that, the harder it becomes to focus on anything meaningful.

It’s like I’m choosing to stay unfocused.

At the same time, when I do slow down and look at my life clearly, it can feel overwhelming. There’s a lot I want to change, and not having a clear direction makes it easier to fall back into old habits. So I end up stuck between knowing better and not doing better.

That tension has been showing up a lot this week.

Another thing I’m noticing is how much I exaggerate things in my mind. Not just material possessions, but situations, mistakes, even other people. I take something small and turn it into something heavier than it needs to be. And once I do that, my reactions follow that exaggeration.

That’s where this idea of “freedom” starts to make sense.

If I can see things more plainly—less emotionally charged, less dressed up—then they lose some of their grip on me. I don’t have to stop enjoying things, but I also don’t have to depend on them.

I can choose differently.

That applies to more than just spending. It shows up in how I handle mistakes, how I judge myself, and how I react to other people. I’ve gotten better at admitting when I’m wrong, but I still struggle with actually changing my behavior afterward. Recognizing a problem doesn’t fix it.

Action does.

And that’s the part I’m still working on.

I’m starting to understand that clarity isn’t about being harsh or cynical—it’s about being honest. Seeing things for what they are so I can stop overvaluing what doesn’t help me, and start focusing on what does.

I’m not there yet. I still get pulled by impulse, still distracted, still inconsistent. But I can see it more clearly now.

And maybe that’s where change begins.

Because the less I exaggerate what things are, the less control they have over me.

Say Hello

Thank you for listening and joining me on my journey of self-discovery!

Mediations and Prompts influenced from The Daily Stoic Books

Please if you enjoy this content checkout Ryan's work