“Don't let your reflection on the whole sweep of life crush you. Don't fill your mind with all the bad things that might still happen. Stay focused on the present situation and ask yourself why it's so unbearable and can't be survived.”
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 8.36
June 19, 2021 7:00 AM
Getting swept up with the Big Picture can become overwhelming when we are trying to plan and problem solve. Marcus Aurelius reminds us to focus on the present when we start becoming overwhelmed.
Conclusion
There is an interesting balance here. We can become too focused on the present such that we lose sight of the forest through the trees. Finding the balance between both allows us to keep moving forward.