“There are more things likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”—Seneca, from his letter ‘On Groundless Fears’
When I was a boy my mum would remind me repeatedly that my worries existed almost entirely in my mind.
To prove it, she would ask how many of my fears had become reality. The vast majority of the time, I had little to offer.
This lesson stuck with me due to her patient and persistent repetition. And it’s a lesson I still need to remind myself of regularly.
Although we can’t avoid worrisome thoughts—especially in these times—our first step should be to consider if we’re worrying in the imaginary realm, or if it’s a fear that is grounded in reality.