“Misfortune weighs most heavily on those who expect nothing but good fortune.” —Seneca
I used to be a positive-thinking fundamentalist. Age and life experience have shown me the value of balancing with the negative.
Visualizing the negative and expecting the worst will brace you for whatever comes and make you appreciate even more what you have.
No need to dwell on the worst. Just visit the possibilities periodically and consider what could be. After briefly imagining even the most depressing circumstances, you return to the present with a deeper, more vital appreciation for people and things in your life that, moments before, had been taken for granted or even seemed invisible.
Have the courage to embrace life as it is, its good and bad, and be prepared for whatever may come. “Good” and “bad” define each other. Face the negative to strengthen the positive.
“The secret to happiness is low expectations.” –Barry Schwartz
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