14 Preparation, courage, and self-talk
No. 14 – 10 Mar 2023
Welcome to the 14th edition of 4-TP, a weekly newsletter with the actionable insights you need.
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TPL Article
Preparing for worst-case scenarios is one of the best ways to achieving mental strength.
— Read more
Insight
Seneca, on living in the present for happiness:
"If you separate from yourself, that is, from your thought . . . everything you have said or done in the past, everything that disturbs you about the future; all that . . . attaches itself to you against your will . . . if you separate from yourself the future and the past, and apply yourself exclusively to living the life that you are living—that is to say, the present—you can live all the time that remains to you until your death, in calm, benevolence, and serenity."
Micro Thought
In the early 1900s, Japanese children across the country were taught 3 simple but fundamental rules for living they had to repeat every morning. They are:
Do not be a burden to others
Take care of others
Do not expect rewards for your goodness
Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese diplomat who helped thousands of Jews flee Europe by issuing transient visas to them, credits his courage to these 3 simple rules.
A personal constitution of values and guiding principles that guide you in the most difficult times.
Question
There will always be tough times. The Stoics taught us that one way to prepare is to think about all the ways something can go wrong in that thing you’re pursuing and identify ways to prepare for it.
What is one important goal you're currently pursuing and what are the 3 worst-case scenarios that could get in the way?
Till next week,
— Carlos & Stef
