Seneca noticed that we suffer more in imagination than in reality, frightening ourselves with troubles that may never come. The mind loves to run ahead and pre-live disasters. But you can only handle what's actually in front of you, and most of the feared futures never arrive in the shape you dreaded. When you catch yourself borrowing trouble from tomorrow, you can gently hand it back: that's not today's problem. Today has its own real tasks, and they're usually enough. This isn't denial; if something needs planning, plan it once, then stop. The endless rehearsing isn't preparation. It's just suffering twice for things that may never happen at all.

Inspired by the old idea of present moment, imagined suffering. Written by Ugo Charles.