Reason dictates that while some things are within the power of man, some are beyond human capability. "Bodily health, wealth, friends, [and] death" (Aurelius, 17) are not within the bounds of human control. Therefore, Aurelius makes several references to keeping these feelings external, where they cannot affect him.
Meditations was written while Aurelius was leading the Roman army in battle along the Danube River. Instead of recording his victories and defeats, Aurelius writes of his thoughts and feelings. Death, as a warrior was a prominent part of his life, was a constant thought and Aurelius constantly reminded himself that death must not be feared. He believed that he should "despise not death; smile, rather, at its coming" (Aurelius, IX- 3) because death is simply one of those things that cannot be feared because it is beyond control. .
Life is linked with the tenets of nature and reason; Providence is "the source from which all things flow; and allied with it is Necessity, and the welfare of the universe" (Aurelius, XX). Aurelius constantly writes of death and Providence in this fashion. Providence is the creator of life, and, upon death, the elements that are the makeup up life are dispersed and come together again as a new being. .
The pursuit of the Stoics was to reach happiness. This was achieved by following Nature and reason. This is not to say that Stoicism is void of free will, but free will comes in accepting to follow Nature's path or to disregard it. Aurelius believes that if one follows the rational laws of being, one will reach happiness. Conversely, if one leaves Nature's path of rationality, happiness will be avoided. Aurelius states two reasons to accept Nature: .
"first because it happens to yourself, has been prescribed for yourself, and concerns yourself, being a stand in the tapestry of primordial causation; and secondly, because every individual dispensation is one of the causes of prosperity, success, and even survival of That which administer the universe, (Aurelius, V-8).
