Stillness in the Storm

“Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Marcus Aurelius opens the day with a mental rehearsal—not of tasks, but of temperament. He anticipates conflict: difficult personalities, petty egos, and hostile intentions. But instead of reacting with frustration, he reframes them as ignorant, not evil. Their flaws stem from a lack of wisdom, not malicious design.

This practice is both defensive and compassionate. It steels the mind against surprise or disappointment and softens the heart by placing blame not on the person, but on their confusion. It’s a Stoic’s way of preparing not just for what the world throws at you—but how to meet it.

Expecting friction doesn’t make you cynical. It makes you calm.

Founders and leaders encounter all of the above—arrogance, envy, ingratitude—especially in high-stakes environments. Marcus’s quote is a tactical tool: a morning ritual that pre-emptively neutralizes emotional triggers.

Say you’re entering a tense investor meeting or dealing with a toxic client. Instead of hoping for courtesy, expect friction. That expectation won’t make it happen—but it will make it manageable.

Better still, Stoicism teaches that you don’t need to mirror their behavior. You don’t need to be shaken, reactive, or bitter. Their ignorance is not your burden.

This mindset fosters clarity in conflict and resilience in leadership. In the chaos of entrepreneurship, equanimity is a strategic advantage.

Begin each day not just with a to-do list, but with a mindset—a mental armor, lined with grace.