Issue 86 - Meditations

Welcome to Issue 86 of Deep Life Reflections, where I share five things I’ve been enjoying and thinking about over the past week.

This week, we’re taking an introspective journey that spans two millennia. We start with the great Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and his influential Meditations, a work which has inspired generations of thinkers. We then turn to the powerful 1957 film 12 Angry Men, a story that shows how doubt can be an instrument of enlightenment on the path to reason and justice. We also contemplate how the ancient philosophy of Stoicism can help us remain centred on personal accountability, especially in the face of events beyond our control.

Join me as we explore this week’s Friday Five.

1. What I’m Reading

Meditations. By Marcus Aurelius.

Meditations is a collection of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180. It’s one of the most widely read books about philosophy written, which is a little ironic as scholars generally agree it was never meant to be read by anyone other than Aurelius himself. Written in Greek, Meditations were his own private notes and philosophical reflections during different seasons of his life; the equivalent of a modern-day journal to better understand himself and the world around him.  

I keep a copy of Meditations on my bedside table, dipping in and out from time to time. It’s that kind of book—like a steady compass, easy to pick up and gain something valuable very quickly. Because Aurelius wrote it for himself, there is no real structure; his reflections jump from one topic to another, often repeating key ideas. Yet this repetition reinforces those recurring themes and reminds readers to regularly revisit their values. As the back cover of my Penguin Classics edition notes, “[His words] have been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers, and readers throughout the centuries.”

Marcus Aurelius was deeply guided by the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, which has seen a resurgence in popularity in the last two decades, particularly in fields like business, sports, and personal development. Stoicism is seen as a tool for self-mastery, perseverance, and wisdom—qualities which are attractive against the backdrop of our modern, challenging, often chaotic lives. For those interested in exploring Stoic philosophy further, I’ve written more about it on my new Paths page on Deep Life Journey.   

Meditations is a fundamentally introspective work, where Aurelius continually challenges himself to focus on what lies within his control and to accept what doesn’t. This, he suggests, is essential for true self-understanding. From the many quotable passages, I’ve highlighted three that reflect the three core pillars of Deep Life Journey: Intention, Balance, and Cultivation.

Intention:

“People find pleasure in different ways. I find it in keeping my mind clear.”

A reminder of the clarity that comes from making purposeful choices, living deliberately.

Balance:

“...because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you'll have more time and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, is this necessary…”

A call to strip away the nonessential, creating space for harmony across all aspects of our being.

Cultivation:

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”

An encouragement to nurture our inner world, knowing that our thoughts shape who we are and what we can accomplish.

History records that Marcus Aurelius treated his people with respect, kindness, and dignity during his emperorship—qualities that earned him recognition as one of the Five Good Emperors. He practiced what he preached. Aurelius understood life’s natural cycle: that everything comes from nature and will eventually return to it. But while we are here, we should “live each day… without frenzy, without apathy, without pretense” and to maintain focus and strong ethical principles.

He reminds us that a happy life comes from simplicity, virtue, and self-understanding.

All are within our reach.

2. What I’m Watching

12 Angry Men (1957). Directed by Sidney Lumet.

12 Angry Men is a courtroom drama that, except for three minutes, is filmed entirely in a tight, stuffy jury room on a sweltering day in New York City. Twelve men are doing their civic duty as jurors. At stake is a young boy’s life. He’s accused of murdering his father and the case seems clear as day. The boy is guilty. Hands down. Each man delivers their initial verdict of “Guilty” without hesitation. All except one. Juror #8. And from here begins one of the best films of the 20th century about critical thinking, groupthink, and the vital role of debate. The film’s handling of these subjects has made it a staple in business schools and workshops on enhancing team collaboration and conflict resolution techniques.

12 Angry Men is the debut film of Sidney Lumet—whose memoir Making Movies I explored in a previous issue of Deep Life Reflections. The film earned Lumet an Oscar nomination for Best Director, and it was also nominated for Best Picture. Shot in black and white, the film is technically masterful, with the cramped, claustrophobic jury room seeming to shrink as the long day wears on, mirroring the mounting tensions among the jurors. Lumet achieves this oppressive effect through skilful use of different lenses and camera angles. We feel the increasing humidity and psychological strain, the frustrations boiling over in the confined space as the intensity of the deliberation surges.

Lumet summed up the essence of the film in one word: ‘Listen.’ Like Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, Henry Fonda’s Juror #8 embodies the voice of reason, morality, and integrity—standing alone but with conviction. It’s not that he has all the answers, or even that he’s sure of the boy’s innocence, but he has doubt and he wants to talk about it. “We’re talking about someone’s life here. We can’t decide in five minutes. Supposing we’re wrong?” He wants others to look closer, to question, to listen.

His integrity allows him to express that doubt, even in the face of everyone else’s conviction of the boy’s guilt. Over the course of the film, these debates take centre stage, as the simple act of discourse allow new perspectives to come to light. Within the jury room, there are some forceful personalities and egos, while others seem more interested in reaching a quick verdict so they can catch the evening’s baseball game. The film’s tension comes from these personality conflicts and subtle body language.

The film is engrossing, and as the vote starts to turn, we start to better understand the personalities, backgrounds, occupations, emotions, and prejudices sitting within this powder keg of a room. The film shows nothing of the trial itself; we hear and see nothing for ourselves—we learn everything through the jurors and their interpretations. The evidence is debated so thoroughly that we feel like a juror ourselves. We’re pulled into their deliberations, questioning whether a reasonable doubt exists—a fundamental principle behind the idea that one is innocent until proven guilty.

12 Angry Men was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2007 for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” Its power lies in its message that doubt, far from being a weakness, can be a tool for deeper understanding and a path to truth.   

3. What I’m Contemplating

I listen to a lot of podcasts. Earlier this week, I listened to one by Ryan Holiday. Holiday, host of The Daily Stoic and author of several books on Stoicism, has built a career out of translating ancient Stoic wisdom into practical, accessible lessons for modern life. He shared a timely message in this episode: “Your duty remains the same.” His point was that Stoicism centres on personal accountability—regardless of external events (the things we cannot control), we’re expected to remain people of virtue, dedicated to self-growth and inner strength. Holiday reminds us that Stoic values are not bound to any specific time or situation. They guide us through all kinds of challenges.

In both Meditations and 12 Angry Men, the journey toward self-understanding and enlightenment is anything but straightforward. It’s a path of continuous probing, continuous doubt. The process of better understanding ourselves is long, with many turns. It often challenges us to stay true to our values despite the changing world around us. Whatever challenges we face, our commitment to the person we want to become remains constant.

Introspection and conviction aren’t abstract ideas—they’re actionable in our daily lives. We can look to the solitary journey of Juror #8 as a powerful example of wrestling with doubt and resisting societal pressure, ultimately making a decision aligned with his sense of truth and justice.

We can stay true to our principles, whatever life throws.

4. A Quote to note

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”

- W.B. Yeats

5. A Question for you

When was the last time you made a difficult decision that required courage and self-reflection, and how did you stay true to your values through that process?

Thanks for reading and being part of the Deep Life Journey community. If you have any reflections on this issue, please leave a comment. Have a great weekend.

James

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