In this podcast, they discuss how worrying about things that may never happen causes unnecessary suffering. Stoic philosophy encourages focusing on what we can control instead of stressing over unpredictable outcomes.
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Quick takeaways
Worrying about things before they happen often leads to unnecessary suffering.
By focusing on the things that we can control - ourselves, our thinking, and our actions - we can let go of attachment to specific outcomes and accept whatever happens.
Deep dives
The Impact of Worrying About the Future
Worrying about things before they happen often leads to unnecessary suffering, as our imagination can create scenarios that may never occur. The Stoics recognized that humans have wild imaginations and can come up with all kinds of possibilities for what could go wrong. While it is important to prepare for the worst, constantly worrying about the outcome of future events is counterproductive. Instead, we should focus on the things that we can control - ourselves, our thinking, and our actions. By focusing on the process and making good decisions, we can let go of attachment to specific outcomes and accept whatever happens.
Shifting Focus to the Process and Acceptance
Rather than fixating on the outcome, it is more productive to shift our attention to the process. We have control over ourselves and our actions, which allows us to make good decisions and do good work. When we put effort into things that we can influence and accept that the outcome is outside of our control, we can let go of worry and stress. Instead of constantly trying to control circumstances, we learn to be okay with whatever happens and allow things to unfold naturally. By asking ourselves whether we are focused too much on the outcome or working on the process, we can redirect our energy towards what is within our control.