It's your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don't take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.

Marcus Aurelius ruled the Roman Empire during one of its most turbulent periods — and met it with uncommon reflection and calm. His personal notes, collected in Meditations, were never meant for an audience. But today, they remain one of the most powerful testaments to inner clarity, humility, and strength.