When I’m feeling stressed, I sometimes remind myself of the message from this entry from The Daily Stoic. However, I prefer to say “I’m ok” as framing it in the present tense helps calm me down and makes me see the situation more clearly. Plus if I’m upset, the last thing I want to do is think that I have to wait until some point in the future before I can feel better. Phrasing aside, this is a good reminder to focus on the present moment instead of dwelling on what happened in the past or fretting about what may happen in the future.
“Don’t lament this and don’t get agitated.”
-Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.43
There’s that feeling we get when something happens: It’s all over now. All is lost. What follows are complaints and pity and misery – the impotent struggle against something that’s already occurred.
Why bother? We have no idea what the future holds. We have no idea what’s coming up around the bend. It could be more problems, or this could be the darkness before the dawn.
If we’re Stoic, there is one thing we can be sure of: whatever happens, we’re going to be OK.