X. Cast Your Worries Aside
Let life run its natural course.
“A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.” — Seneca
It's prudent to think of all the bad things that can happen to you, your relationships, the business. Or the new job you've started.
You don't want to get caught by surprise when life disappoints you. When a valuable item is stolen. When you get laid off from your job.
This practice primes you to live with confidence because you're well prepared to adapt in case anything bad happens.
You want the peace of mind that comes from what Seneca advised his friend Lucillus about the premeditation of evils.
What is quite unlooked for is more crushing in its effect, and unexpectedness adds to the weight of a disaster. This is a reason for ensuring that nothing ever takes us by surprise. We should project our thoughts ahead of us at every turn and have in mind every possible eventuality instead of only the usual course of events…Rehearse them in your mind: exile, torture, war, shipwreck. All the terms of our human lot should be before our eyes.”
However, premeditation becomes a vice when you live paranoid, always looking out for your back. When you're unable to focus on the present moment and all the good, joy, and love in it.
If fate decides your good life will soon come crushing down, then it will at its own time and you'll deal with it amicably — as you've always done.
Don't stress or sabotage it to prove you were right. Neither should you avoid or half-ass it because you think it might cushion you from getting hurt — for then you’re not living.
Besides, whether you put your all in it or not and it fails, it'll hurt the same — perhaps more because you weren't committed to it, knowing it was worth the effort.
Yet, you'll regret because you know you didn't do your best. The pride of being a good man won't help you weather the storm of grief.
Contemplate bad outcomes and create contingencies. But let life run its natural course.
Focus on what you control. That's your business. What's real will prosper.
Remember this moment is all you're assured, and it looks beautiful.
Cast your worries aside and enjoy it. All of it.
See you tomorrow. xo