“The man/woman who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive.”- Seneca
This quote was taken from Seneca's letters from a stoic and it is a wonderful quote that resembles the importance of preparation.
My father always taught me that preparation for everything is super important. Whether that is for football, I prepared the night before by getting in the right frame of mind and going to bed early. Or if I was preparing for a presentation, rehearsing it over and over in a similar environment to what I'd be giving it in allowed me to present really well. Preparation is really the key to controlling the controllable.
Seneca would agree with this, and potentially add the connotation of preparing for the worst and expecting the best. By preparing for the worst, you are ready to do whatever you can (through control) and minimize the effects of the troubles.
Have a great week!
Who is Seneca?
Seneca, born in southern Spain over 2,000 years ago in 4 BC and educated in Rome was a high-ranking financial clerk who pursued a career in politics. He worked with Emperor Nero as his tutor and advisor for many years which is where he was subsequently killed by order of Nero himself due to suspicion of Seneca being treacherous. He died in 65 AD. He was interested in many different types of philosophies but sold himself on the idea and concept of Stoicism primarily coined by Zeno in theory. Read by important figures in society such as Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Tim Ferris, the writings of Seneca compiled into the books that express his ideas are still very influential even today.