Do you feel like there were missed opportunities? Why?
- How to deal: Internalize that life is a series of random events with outcomes you have minimal control over. You have control over how you cope with those outcomes. You have control over what situations you put yourself in to create better random events.
- Books: The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander
You feel overwhelmed or hopeless about current events? You want to go back to “better times.”
- How to deal: There’s no such thing as “better times,” just times where we were less bombarded by an endless news cycle. Sensationalism sells - replace fast bites with documentaries and books.
- Books: Same as Ever by Morgan Housel; Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker
You feel anxious about your current situation? You want to go back to “better times.”
- How to deal: Stop doomscrolling social media. Stop looking at what others have with envy - they made their own sacrifices that you probably don’t want to make. They’re likely living outside their means. There’s no such thing as “too late,” you’re just as capable now at starting from scratch as you were when you first started the journey you’re currently on.
You feel anxious about an unknown future?
- How to deal: The best way to shape this future and remove the “unknown” is reflecting on what YOUR personal priorities are, having an honest conversation about what goals do or don’t fit with those priorities and value, setting realistic goals, and putting together a plan that breaks your goals into steps that you can form habits around. Progress is better than perfection. Stop and appreciate what you have on the way to achieving your goals.
- Books: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman