Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Frank and Straightforward
We might imagine Marcus as the Grumpy Cat of emperors: he pulls no punches and gives no quarter. He's not interested in his own comfort—or anyone else's, for that matter. When he has advice to give himself, he gives it either as straight-up exhortation (Get out of bed) or in a frank, imperative manner:
A bitter cucumber? Throw it away. Brambles in the path? Go round them. That is all you need, without going on to ask, 'So why are these things in the world anyway?' (8.50)
Marcus owes his speech to the "Quit yer whinin'" approach of Stoicism, which is all about seeing things only for what they are and not indulging in emotional drama of any sort.