“Whatever anyone does or says, for my part I’m bound to the good. In the same way an emerald or gold or purple might always proclaim: ‘whatever anyone does or says, I must be what I am and show my true colours'”. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.

Being true to yourself can sometimes be difficult. When the heat of the moment promotes emotional thinking, tempting you to seize a forbidden pleasure or to flee from a challenge that really needs to be tackled head-on, you can find yourself in two minds. “Should I stay or should I go?”

Being clear about what is true for you – regardless of context or circumstances – helps you navigate your way through these challenging times, without experiencing the cognitive dissonance that arises from competing drives (well, not too much dissonance, at least!). Keep these universal truths front of mind every day, and they’ll be ready for you when you need them most.