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Yesterday, I was reading about the Stoics, and it was common practice to expect the worst. For example, that could mean falling into poverty, dealing with difficult people or even getting sick.

This practice of expecting the worst may seem like a strange habit to do, but in reality it actually protects us.

Because when you expect the worst to happen, you are no longer in fear of it because you’ve already accepted the fact.

So by practicing this advice you diminish the psychological stress you’d feel if the worst was to happen.

How Nassim Taleb used this advice

One of the biggest fears humans have in life is being unemployed. Former options trader turned writer Nassim Taleb conquered this fear during the 8 years of his life that he was an employee, by simply writing a resignation letter and putting it away in a drawer.

Doing this made Nassim take control of his destiny, he wasn’t stuck anymore, if he wanted to leave all he needed to do was hand that resignation letter in.

The Stoic Roman Emperor practiced this

I remember reading Meditations by Roman Emperor and Stoic, Marcus Aurelius, and he said and I paraphrase “You could leave life right now, let that determine what you say, think, and do”.

You see, we could all leave life right now, but us lucky ones stay around. Enjoy each day that God gives you because each one is a gift and never guaranteed, enjoy each day to the full.

When you prepare for the Maximum downside each day then anything else becomes a bonus. And ordinary life becomes extremely gratifying.

There is a good chance that you may never have been born, but you were. Life is infinite upside.