That big payday seems a lifetime ago. I remember the day well. It was only three days ago. My business received some large outstanding payments which were crippling us. I celebrated. I even bought champagne.  But I knew, I knew that it was only temporary. The good times don’t last long. ........................... When the bad news came, it surprised my staff. My calmness surprised them. I could see their darting eyes looking at each other, waiting, waiting for a queue to jump in and throw metaphorical stones into the pit of disaster that was unfolding. I stayed calm. I sat in the middle of the room and we calmly talked it out.  There were disagreements to be sure, but there wasn’t a single swear word or a raised voice. ........ Stoicism makes the hard times easier. It can also help me appreciate the good times more markedly. ..... This stoic approach of calmness and logic made the bad time perversely (somewhat) enjoyable. This never used to be me. I’m a passionate arm-waving fast talking emotional Italian. But I’ve learnt negative actualisation.  I’ve thought of the exact disaster scenario. I’ve thought of what it would be like to lose the client altogether. I’ve emotionally played it in my head. I’ve played out how I’d be told, and how I’d feel. I was prepared for when it happened.

https://www.stevendipietro.com/blog/2020/2/19/ep24-how-close-is-the-next-storm-and-how-to-survive-it-stoic-stoicism