Although Aurelius writes as a philosopher-emperor, the idea resonates with modern cognitive approaches. Cognitive therapy, developed by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, argues that persistent thought patterns influence emotion and behavior; recurring distortions can deepen depression or anxiety, while reframing can lighten them. The Stoic and clinical vocabularies differ, yet both treat interpretation as a lever.
As a result, “color” can be read psychologically as mood disposition: a mind trained to notice threat becomes vigilant, while one trained to notice possibility becomes resilient. The quote anticipates this by insisting that inner narrative is formative, not decorative. [...]
