Mar 29, 2014-- Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius' most enduring legacy is not his external power, but his deeply held conviction that each one of us is endowed with the inner power to control our minds and responses to external events. In his extensive compilation of writings, collectively titled 'Meditations', Aurelius describes how to develop a mindset that can deal well with any experiences or emotions that arise. Among these teachings are that your own happiness is up to you. There is good in everyone, and life should be treated as an old, faithful friend. In the words of Aurelius, "Everything contains some special purpose and a hidden blessing; what then could be strange or arduous when all of life is here to greet you like an old and faithful friend?" (102954 reads)