Can You Change Your Life by Changing Your Opinion?

Stoicism in practice

Photo by Joshua Clements

I recently saw a meme quoting Mac Anderson that read, “You are always one choice away from changing your life.” I don’t know much about the author or the originality of his idea, but the essence of the quote can be found millennia ago.

Marcus Aurelius wrote something very similar in his diary. In book four of his Meditations, Aurelius reminds us to look at things through the mortal lens and keep our focus on human capability. Building on this theme, he encourages us to keep two important elements in mind: the fickle nature of our opinions and the rate at which our world changes.

In his first statement about opinion, Aurelius wrote that much of what happens does not affect our souls. Instead, these events remain outside our will. We get mad and lose our human composure when we focus on the things outside of our control and form opinions, emotions, or faulty thoughts based on our limited view.

The second reminder he offers is that everything we know, think, believe, and feel will inevitably change in due course. I am reminded of the singer-songwriter Jewel, who said, “Everything is temporary if you give it enough time.”

Aurelius wrote that we should look back on human history and recognize the immense transformations we’ve…