How To Rescue Yourself
“Acta, non verba,” goes the famous Roman saying. Deeds, not words.
How many self-help books have you read? How many personal development gurus have you listened to?
Ideas and talk — including the best philosophy — are worthless in and of themselves. Actions are the only thing that matters when it comes to living up to our ideals and improving our character.
It’s a problem that the Roman Stoic and emperor Marcus Aurelius struggled with.
"Stop wandering about!" he scolded himself. "You aren't likely to read your own notebooks, or ancient histories, or the anthologies you've collected to enjoy in your old age. Get busy with life's purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue - if you care for yourself at all - and do it while you can." (Meditations, 3.14)
Because that’s what philosophy is — a rescue party coming to save you.
But only you can launch it.