Seneca noticed that we suffer more in imagination than in reality, that our fears are often bigger and vaguer than the actual thing. He suggested looking the fear in the face: name it, picture it clearly, ask what would really happen and whether you could handle it. Usually the monster shrinks under honest light. This isn't pretending you're not afraid, fear is human and real. It's refusing to let the fog of dread run your life unexamined. When you spell out plainly what you're scared of, you often find it's more bearable than the shapeless anxiety was. Facing it doesn't make you fearless. It makes you free to act anyway.

Inspired by the old idea of response not reaction. Written by Ugo Charles.