Theme of the Week: Self-reflection
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly.”
- Marcus Aurelius
Brother,
This week is about self-reflection. Aurelius encouraged self-reflection about our character, values, priorities, and how we show up in our lives on a daily basis.
Self-reflection is a type of internal audit that requires honesty with ourselves.
Many men may avoid self-reflection because it is uncomfortable. But if we are not willing to look inward, be honest with ourselves, and be direct about what needs to change, we fall out of alignment with our true selves. We move through life functioning, but not fully authentic.
Living as an inauthentic version of ourselves is exhausting. Not because we are weak, but because we are carrying the weight of a life that does not reflect who we truly are. It shows up as burnout, resentment, fatigue, and a quiet loss of self.
Marcus Aurelius was a straightforward man, but he posed a difficult question: if you knew your life was going to end tomorrow, what would you change today? Who would you want to be in the time you have left?
The answers to these questions may make you feel uncomfortable, but that discomfort is not a problem. It is information that often points you in the direction you are meant to go.
I learned about the consequences of inauthenticity the hard way.
Before my cancer diagnosis, I was racing through life like a man on fire. I was chasing money, success, and the next opportunity. One meal a day, sixteen-hour workdays, four hours of sleep per night, and ignoring every signal my body gave me. I was barely present for the people I love most. I called it “the grind.” In reality, I was running myself into the ground.
When cancer arrived, my priorities changed. I automatically felt the need and desire to be more intentional with my life. None of the money and accomplishments meant anything if I wasn’t alive to live it. For me, the reality of what I was facing forced me to self-reflect about health, relationships, faith, presence, and love.
To be clear, I am not telling you to abandon ambition. Work hard, seek success, and build something meaningful. But do it as your most authentic self. No one will remember your bank balance or the hours you worked. They will remember the role you played in their life, the values you stood on, and the authenticity you carried.
Stay strong, even when you are not. It's okay, you are not alone.
With love always,
Michael Argyrides
Founder - Path to Becoming
