The Day After MLK

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius

The Obstacle

We think movements are built by tearing down.
By lingering on what is wrong
Judging
By degrading another human.

Emotions invite reactions
They invite us to let circumstances
Words
The actions of others
Paint our character.

Autopilot responds.
The moment takes command.

We move right to judgement or action
No understanding
Curiosity
Creativity
Or pausing to think about what really matters.

The Gift and Opportunity

His ethos and his movement were not about tearing down.
They were about seeing the good.
Possibilities.
A dream.
Of what could be.
Of who we could be.

Self-Mastery is leadership over ourselves.
Over our thoughts
Emotions
Actions.

Self-Mastery ripples past ourselves
Into our families
Friends
Communities.

Martin Luther King Jr. was speaking to mindsets and philosophies that are timeless.
Self-command.
Self-mastery.
Self-control.
Decency.

Even in th midst of hatred and chaos.

The actions of others
Their words
The circumstances
Do not paint your character
Unless you allow it.

It paint theirs.

We do not control what happens to us.
We only control how we respond.

In his own way
He brought Stoic philosophy and self-mastery into himself
The movement
The nation.

The Practice of Self-Mastery

• Practice self-mastery in all circumstances.

• Lead yourself first.

• Command your thoughts, emotions, before action.

• Define your character, especially under pressure.

  CHEAT CODE: SELF-MASTERY ALWAYS