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FEAR IS A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY

“Many are harmed by fear itself, and many may have come to their fate while dreading fate.”

- SENECA, OEDIPUS

Summary:
 Seneca warns that fear often causes more harm than the actual events we fear. By obsessing over potential misfortunes, we may inadvertently bring about the very outcomes we dread or allow fear to paralyse us, creating unnecessary suffering.

Interpretation:
 For readers of The Daily Stoic, this quote highlights the Stoic principle of avoiding irrational fears and focusing on what is within your control. In real life, this could manifest as worrying excessively about failure in a project and, as a result, becoming so anxious that you underperform or give up. By replacing fear with rational preparation and acceptance of uncertainty, you can face challenges calmly and with clarity, minimising unnecessary suffering and aligning with the Stoic ideal of resilience and reason.

 

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