Brain Food #551
Having an inner scorecard as an inner compass
Thoughts of the day
Many of us may be wondering ‘How should I lead my life this year?’
Marcus Aurelius is a thinker one should return to time and time again, especially in moments where we might find the fortune and freedom to revisit our philosophy of living. One of the founding fathers of Stoicism, his Meditations are timeless, and thoughts like the below still resonate: “It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”
But good advice given freely is, thankfully, still a characteristic of modern times.
More recently, and perhaps famously, Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors in the world, spoke of his ‘inner scorecard’ principle. Having an outer scorecard means your actions are driven by what others may think of you, whereas an inner scorecard means your actions are driven by your inherent values and beliefs.
It is hard to live just with the inner scorecard —sometimes the opinion of others matters in terms of how far we get in our careers and our relationships— however, it can serve as a compass, one through which we first prioritise our inherent values, and what feels right for us, before rushing to do what is right for others. A reminder that a good reputation and a happy life are built from within, whereas an external image built on what we need to project is a house of cards that will, eventually, collapse.
Marcus Aurelius was the last of the “Five Good Emperors”, yet the reputation that has outlived him was not how he performed as a ruler, but the clarity of thought he possessed, and the generosity with which he shared it, paired with the lack of corruption he displayed, despite his position of power.
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