Here’s how ancient wisdom from the Stoics can help you be happier:

• Events Don’t Upset You. Beliefs Do: Only the end of the world is the end of the world.
• Control What You Can. Ignore The Rest: Worrying never fixed anything.
• Accept Everything. But Don’t Be Passive: Nobody recommends denial. Accept. And then do something.
• Choose Whose Child You Will Be: “What would Batman do in this situation?”
• Morning And Evening Rituals Are Essential: Plan for the day, then reflect on the day.

Marcus Aurelius’ classic book “Meditations” starts out kinda weird. He mentions all the people who he feels indebted to for having helped him. It’s basically a gratitude list.

The Stoics were big on gratitude. In fact, in Meditations he wrote:

Don’t set your mind on things you don’t possess as if they were yours, but count the blessings you actually possess and think how much you would desire them if they weren’t already yours.

A few thousand years later research would catch up with him on that one. Studies show mentally subtracting cherished moments from your life makes you appreciate them more, makes you grateful and makes you happier.

“What if I never met my partner? What if my child was never born? Wow, I am so lucky to have them in my life.”

You don’t need that shiny new thing in order to smile. Take a second to appreciate all the shiny things you already have that aren’t so new.

http://pandawhale.com/post/73397/ancient-wisdom-reveals-6-rituals-that-will-make-you-happy