The book Meditations by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is the only self-help publication you’ll ever need. Packed with profound insight about life, death, happiness, anger, love, fear and much more, it’s my top “if you could take just one thing with you on a desert island” item.

Meditations is a key text in Stoicism and Stoic philosophy (more on that below). It was thought to have been written between 161 and 180 AD and arguably remains popular – and is regarded as relevant – all this time later thanks its many pithy passages and observations.

One of the most quoted lines is the opener to Book Two (Meditations is divided in 12 books, all of which can be read from any point, in any order). It reads:

Begin each day by telling yourself: today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will, and selfishness – all of them due to the offenders’ ignorance of what is good or evil.

The original Greek no doubt varies slightly and this interpretation is taken from the Penguin 1964 translation (and incidentally, there are subsequent lines to this passage about embracing our fellow humans, despite their flaws and forgiving their indiscretions, but they’re a little out of the scope here).

Nonetheless, the point that Marcus makes is that we will encounter douchebags and ass-hats who are rude and obnoxious and inconsiderate. Indeed, he was Emperor of the world’s largest empire at the time, and not even he could prevent people being selfish, idiotic, or talking and acting without thinking.

As mentioned, one reason why Meditations remains popular is that, even after 1800 years, the ideas and principles feel strangely relevant when applied through a modern lens.

Across social media you will routinely encounter people who are stupid, infuriatingly ignorant or pig headed. Other drivers (if you commute by car) will cut you off, or drive too slowly or quickly. Politicians will say poisonous or irresponsible things. Co-workers, customers and clients will be selfish, difficult, rude or unhelpful. And friends and family will disapprove, disappoint, maybe even lie or betray.

The point that Marcus makes is a central tenet to Stoicism and Stoic philosophy. Quite simply, not even the Emperor can control the fact that people will be idiots. What we can do, however, is prepare ourselves for the fact that this will inevitably occur.

In doing so, when we are prepared, we are better able to control how we respond to the ensuing adversity and distress that such a situation would cause us.

Distress comes from unmet expectations

As mentioned, Meditations is a key text in the ancient (and quite simple and accessible) collection of beliefs that is Stoicism and Stoic philosophy. One of the its concepts is that so much of our distress is a consequence of expectations being unmet.

It may be something minute and trivial: that dessert you were looking forward to in the fridge went mouldy, or a family member forgot to buy a requested item from the supermarket.

It may be something to contend with in your professional life: you didn’t get the job, or someone who was badmouthing you got the promotion.

It may be something that profoundly affects you on a daily basis: seemingly irreconcilable differences with your partner are behind constant disagreements, or someone you love has an irresponsible lifestyle, expensive habit or damaging addiction.

It may even transcend your mortality: an injury or illness affects your quality of life, or your life expectancy is shortened.

In every case, from the trivial to the profound, it is natural to feel distress after an expectation did not turn out how we wanted.

Marcus tells us to armour ourselves against adversity by acknowledging and preparing for the fact that life will be full of disappointments (including the inescapable fact that, ultimately, every human will eventually get sick and perish).

Knowing this, Marcus reiterates throughout Meditations (as do the other Stoics, both modern and old) that this mindset makes us more resilient and better able able to resist the distress that life will throw at us.

In turn, we are better equipped to live our lives with greater tranquillity.

It’s something useful to keep in mind throughout the day.

It’s an intrinsic and unchangeable aspect of human nature.

Even 1800 years later.