Are You Living Purposefully? (Meditations 4.2)

This episode of Practical Stoicism dives into the thought-provoking yet concise Meditations 4.2 by Marcus Aurelius. I explore what it means to act with purpose and how the Stoic tradition invites us to examine our actions not by their strict planning but by their alignment with Virtue. I argue that taking time to rest or reconnect with nature is not inherently aimless if it serves the goal of living well. I also reflect on a listener’s question about why I choose not to use skin-tone-specific emojis, connecting this personal choice to Stoic principles of identity and focus. The conversation touches on the dangers of over-identification with external labels and the value of keeping one’s attention on what truly matters: our role as rational participants in the Cosmopolis. MEDITATIONMeditations 4.2 — “Nothing that is undertaken is to be undertaken without a purpose, nor otherwise than according to a principle which makes the art of living perfect.” THREE TAKEAWAYS — Purposeful living doesn’t mean relentless scheduling, but thoughtful engagement with your actions. — Rest and leisure, when chosen with intention, align with the Stoic pursuit of Virtue. — Avoiding identity labels can help maintain focus on the most important identity: being a rational part of the Cosmos. LINKS — Go ad-free: https://stoicismpod.com/members — Order my book: https://stoicismpod.com/book — Source Text: https://stoicismpod.com/far — Follow me on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/tannerocampbell.bsky.social — Follow me on YouTube: https://stoicismpod.com/youtube — Stoicism QOTD App: https://qotd.tannercampbell.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices