Think Negatively.

Remember 9/11?

This is one of the US's most tragic events, but not for the reason you might think.

That day, 2,977 US citizens were killed.

What struck everyone the most, and why it was logged into history’s books forever, was the unpredictability of that event.

This event belongs to the category of The Black Swan Events—events we thought impossible to occur.

The Stoics observed that people often are delusional, and only think about what can go right.

Even if they think about what might go wrong, they don’t fully believe it…until they experience it.

Seneca said that “we’ve seen so many funerals passing outside our doors, yet we still think it won’t happen to us.”

He also wrote that Fortune falls heavier on the one who least expects it.

So what should you do?

You should actively try to think of everything that can go wrong…

…when planning a date.

…when sending a message.

…when asking for a promotion.

…when investing money.

…when deciding to start a relationship with someone.

The Stoics called this exercise, Premeditatio Malorum, Negative Visualization.

They were trying to get one step ahead of Fortune… and they were doing an excellent job.

The Stoics didn’t view this exercise as pessimistic, but as a realistic view of life.

Unexpected things occur, and to think otherwise makes you delusional

Better to be prepared for the worst and never meet it, rather than dancing on Cloud 9, and then saying, “But I thought I was never going to happen.”

Well, guess what…

It did.

And now you have to deal with it.

So why not deal with it a priori to minimize its significance when and if it occurs?

Think about it. Feel it. See what you are going to do about it.

This shouldn’t make you feel less strong, but better prepared.

You now know what can go wrong, and can deal with it more effectively, while others start panicking and blaming God for an event that was probable.

Marcus Aurelius had a powerful technique to prepare himself for difficult days and toxic people.

Epictetus also reminded his students to “keep death, and exile, and poverty, and everything else that seems terrible daily before your eyes.”

Start applying this principle to your daily life, and watch as you slowly start gaining more control of your life.

Let me know about your progress.

Thank you.

Said The Stoic

PS. Daily Stoic has written a great article about it. You can read it here.