How To Be Ready for Anything

Stoics try to be prepared for life. To best way to prepare is to train yourself a react to everything with equanimity or indifference while seeking to respond with virtue. 

• Imagine different “disasters” that might befall you today or in the future as if they’re happening. Imagine your initial reaction (probably overblown), and see yourself pull back from it so you can take a more critical look.

• Practice removing value judgments from your “disasters”, looking at them as simple facts, and realizing that they’re not good or bad in and of themselves — “It is what it is.” 

• As you imagine these “disasters”, ask yourself, what would be totally up to me at this point in terms of my response? What would be not up to me? Practice refocusing on the things that you have total control over. Make sure your responses are in line with the virtues of wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.

• Imagine how an experienced religious figure, philosopher, or another person you admire would react to the “disasters” you’re imagining. What would they do differently?

  “What is quite unlooked for is more crushing in its effect, and unexpectedness adds to the weight of a disaster,” Seneca says. “This is a reason for ensuring that nothing ever takes us by surprise. We should project our thoughts ahead of us at every turn and have in mind every possible eventuality instead of only the usual course of events…”