The Stoic Handbook with Jon Brooks What You'll Miss When It's Gone: A Stoic Gratitude Meditation (Premeditation of Adversity)
What if the secret to gratitude isn't positive thinking—but imagining loss?
In this 12-minute guided meditation, I'll walk you through an ancient Stoic practice called praemeditatio malorum—the premeditation of adversity. Used by Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, this technique trains you to appreciate what you have before it's gone.
We'll imagine a vivid scenario: a sudden accident that changes everything. Not to be morbid, but to wake you up to the fragility and preciousness of your life right now—your health, your freedom, your relationships, the simple ability to walk across a room.
This practice will help you:
- Cultivate deep, felt gratitude (not just intellectual appreciation)
- Prepare mentally for life's inevitable challenges
- Reduce anxiety by rehearsing resilience
- Break free from hedonic adaptation and wanting more
As Epictetus said: "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."
Find a quiet space. Close your eyes. And let's practice together.