1% Better Every Day: Unlocking Your Potential

Marcus Aurelius, a renowned Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, believed that true fulfillment and satisfaction in life come from living a virtuous life and making a positive impact on others. In his writings, he emphasized the importance of continuous self-improvement and striving to achieve excellence in one's craft, rather than seeking fame and recognition.

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of fame and success. However, the constant pursuit of external validation and recognition can lead to dissatisfaction and a lack of fulfillment. On the other hand, focusing on improving your craft and skills, and using your abilities to benefit others, can bring a sense of purpose and satisfaction that goes beyond fame and recognition. As someone who works in the medical field and treats depression and anxiety every day, the observation that almost every single patient seems to be focused on external factors instead of personal fulfillment can’t be ignored. 

One of the key takeaways from Marcus Aurelius' teachings is the idea that progress and success are the result of consistent, daily effort. Instead of striving for perfection or focusing on grand gestures, Marcus encouraged his followers to focus on small, daily improvements.

When we focus on making daily improvements, even if they are only 1 percent, we are setting ourselves up for success over the long-term. The idea is that these small improvements accumulate over time, and as we continue to make progress, our skills, knowledge, and abilities will grow exponentially.

In the words of the renowed philosopher Jordan Peterson: 

“My friends, let me tell you something. The key to success and happiness in life is not in grand gestures or big, impressive feats. It’s in the small, daily actions that we take toward self-improvement. That’s right, the little things that we do every day, that’s where real change takes place."

The 1 Percent Rule:

To put this into practice, identify an area where you would like to improve, and set a goal to improve by 1 percent each day. This could be anything from reading for 30 minutes each day to practicing a new skill or studying a new subject. The key is to focus on progress, not perfection, and to make it a part of your daily routine.

It might not seem like much in the beginning. But each day you push yourself to be just 1 percent better, these improvements start to compound on each other. Gradually, you will see the effect these improvements have on your life. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at the numbers:

In 3 months, you will be 2,4 times better than today.

In 6 months, you will be 6 times better than today.

In 12 months, you will be 36 times better than you are today.

I don’t know about you, but can you imagine how different your life would be if you were 36 times better at building quality relationships with people? At piano? Or graphic design? 

Whatever skill you choose, I challenge you to commit to the 1 Percent Rule. You are one of the few people who took the simple step of subscribing to this newsletter. That means you want change. You want to improve. And you know what? I believe you will. I truly do. 

Remember… if you fall short, you can always send me a message, and I will do everything I can to help get you back on track. I would love to hear how you plan on incorporating the 1 Percent Rule into your life. Please feel free to send me an email back letting me know :)

With Love,

Matt (ZiggyMJ).