Meditations / Marcus Aurelius
RATINGS
Overall: 4/ 5 stars
Text Level: Medium
Entertainment: Medium
Self-Help: High
Page Count: 170
Is this book right for me and my inmate?
If your mind is always racing in anxiety, fear, and sorrow as you wait for answers to your legal case, this is a great book to find calm.
Buy on: Amazon
Review By: Blackbird (Inmate)
Ancient philosophical wisdom offers guidance to modern, everyday life.
Sitting inside of jail waiting to hear any news about my legal case from my lawyer, I have many days where I feel the stress may be too great to endure. I believe that I am not alone in these feelings, because many other inmates have shared the same thoughts with me. Sometimes having a small little moment of peace can help us cope with the anxiety, fear, and pain we find ourselves in as we wait for an uncertain future. The book, Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius has been a useful tool for me to have the strength to carry on.
Written in ancient Rome by the emperor, this book of philosophy still holds true to our everyday practical needs. It is a wonderful book to read each night for five to ten minutes because it’s broken into numerous small passages. The book covers a variety of topics from freeing ourselves from anger, anxiety, sorrow, and guilt, to teaching the principles of a moral, and meaningful life. You can read this book multiple times when life might be too stressful so that you can regain balance.
I use this book in this way to find peace for myself, when the negative voices in my head have become too loud from anxiety of my legal situation. The book has a lot of small quotes I can read that help me reflect about the bigger picture in life, allowing me to gain a sense of calm. I really believe it can be a useful tool for inmates and their families when the hurt of stress becomes something they feel they cannot manage. Just open the book, read a few words of loving wisdom, and understand that we can make it through this if we put these ideas into practice for our daily lives. The ability to find success is within all our natures.
Book Quotes
“Today I escaped from anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions – not outside.”
“The things ordained for you – teach yourself to be at one with those. And the people who share them with you – treat them with love. With real love.”
