Leading with Character: Practice Self Control

My friend and colleague, Rear Admiral, US Coast Guard Reserve (ret.) Rich Schneider is the former President of Norwich University and a person who has supported me and believed in me. In turn, I’ve tried to pay it forward by reaching out to mentor and support others. Recently, Rear Admiral Schneider sent me an inspirational piece on self-control featuring one of my favorite philosophers, Marcus Aurelius, who also reigned as emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 AD.

Core Principles by which to Live

Marcus Aurelius is famous for his private reflections, published in a book titled Mediations. I highly recommend it to anyone who seeks self-improvement. Renowned for his wisdom and fortitude, Marcus Aurelius practiced stoicism, a philosophy designed to foster resilience, virtue and wisdom.

In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius sets forth several core principles, below, that seem in short supply in today’s world. They sound like basic common sense for those living in a civil society but advancing them from theory into practice is hard. As you read through this list, contemplate how each principle applies to your actions and behavior, and what you can do to become better.

• Control: You can’t control your environment, but you have complete control over your own thought and actions.
• Virtue: Strive for justice, wisdom, courage, temperance while being indifferent to wealth, obstacles, hard times.
• Interconnectedness: See the world through reason and recognize the interconnectedness of all people.
• Internal Strength: Build a rational, disciplined mind that remains unmoved by external chaos, criticism, or hardships.
• Perspective: View life from a higher level to recognize how small some troubles are in the bigger picture.

Now, back to the piece on Stoicism Rear Admiral Schneider shared with me. Posted by the company, ResponsibleMan, it applies to all of us. Derived from the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, it’s a good and timely reminder of how to live a better life. I’m sharing it so you, too, can become a better person and leader of character:

“Marcus Aurelius did not write his private reflections from a palace at peace. He wrote them in the middle of war.

Cold camps. Long marches. Plague. Pressure. Responsibility that would have crushed a softer man.

And yet the notes he left behind were not excuses, complaints, or self-pity. They were reminders: Hold your temper. Do your duty. Govern yourself before trying to govern the world.

That is the part most men skip. They want better outcomes before better habits. A sharper body before a sharper standard. Respect before self-command.

But strength always starts in the same place. Not out there. In here.

The man who can rule his appetite, his mood, and his routine is already more dangerous than the man who only looks strong. Whether you’re personally in the middle of peace or in the middle of war, you can choose how you respond (not react).”

Look in the mirror: How closely do your actions and behavior align with the principles of Marcus Aurelius and what can you do to harness the power of those principles to improve your workplace climate and team performance?

Please join me again next time for more on Leading with Character.

If you enjoyed this post, please visit my website where you can buy my book, Breaking Ice & Breaking Glass: Leading in Uncharted Waters, and sign up for my mailing list: https://sandrastosz.com/book/breaking-ice-and-breaking-glass/