Hustle culture says "live like there's no tomorrow." Stoics disagree.
Common misunderstanding:
People think Stoics are morbid types obsessed with death - that Memento Mori means sadness or giving up. You see this in dark social media posts or hustle-bros treating life like a race against the clock. (1/4)
Why this hurts us:
Twisting Stoicism leads to two bad paths:
Workaholics grinding through empty tasks to "leave a mark"
People who stop trying because "nothing matters"
Both waste your limited time.
The real Stoic view:
Memento Mori isn't about fear. It's about focus. Marcus Aurelius wrote: "You could leave life right now. Let that shape what you do." (2/4)
This means:
Working purposefully, not endlessly
Cutting tasks that don't matter
Choosing ambition that aligns with your values
Ask: "If today were my last, is this where I'd spend my energy?"
Here's the hard part:
Your five-year career plan might look different if you faced this truth. That late-night work pushing promotions that won't matter later - is it building something real or just busywork? (3/4)
What do you think? Can remembering death help us work better or make us reconsider our jobs?
#Stoicism #MementoMori #Philosophy #HustleCulture #Productivity #PersonalDevelopment #Mindfulness #WorkLifeBalance #MarcusAurelius #MeaningfulWork (4/4)
Procrastin Aurelius