Worry is the quintessential wasteful emotion. It doesn’t help improve our life, but consumes large amounts of energy. The more we worry, the less time we have available for productive, constructive action. Seneca had endured worry and anxiety in his mid-twenties, due to a severe respiratory illness. He thought he was going to die, when he had barely started to live. Decades later, when looking back at that period, he had drawn crucial philosophical lessons. I regard the 107th Letter to Lucilius as a summary of sound principles for dealing with worry, anxiety and similar negative emotions. The first step is to become conscious of the fact that those feelings are a complete waste of time. “A normal human lifespan should suffice us as long as we do not waste time,” reasoned Seneca. “If we work assiduously towards our goals,” he observed, “we can achieve a great deal.” I want to emphasise the importance of this principle, which constitutes a prerequisite for further self-improvement. People who regard worry and anxiety as useful, are unlikely to remedy them. Their naivete reminds me of an ancient fable about a bird that befriends a snake, only to be betrayed and eaten alive. The bird complains that the snake has betrayed their friendship, but the snake replies that “I’m snake and I must behave like one.” It was foolish for the bird to think that a snake could change its nature. Similarly, it is foolish for people to view their worry and anxiety as favourable or productive. Seneca lamented that humans will waste enormous amounts of time on worthless activities. His recipe was straightforward. Effective living and emotional health revolve around “focusing our attention on the present.” In the 107th Letter to Lucilius, Seneca advised us to consider each day as a self-contained unity. He employed the words “to regard each day as a separate life.” He meant that the sheer fact of using today’s hours well should put us in a positive mood. Seneca recommended the daily practice of virtue because it is the best way to live. By doing today what needs to be done, we are establishing a solid basis for tomorrow’s happiness. It is better to get today’s work done one hundred per cent than waste our time worrying about potential setbacks. I must hasten to add that Seneca was not advising people to live blindly, without making plans for the future. That wouldn’t solve any problem. Insouciance is impractical and dangerous. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/seneca-on-how-to-stop-worrying/