Episode 3: From Anxiety to Action: How Ancient Wisdom Helped Me Face an Uncertain Future

Picture this: It's 2 AM, and I'm lying in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind racing through every possible way my SAT exam could go wrong next week. What if my brain just stopped functioning? What if I correct my answer into the wrong one? What if I haven’t prepared enough? Sound familiar?

As a high school student, I've learned that future anxiety is basically our generation's default setting. We're constantly bombarded with important decisions to do with college, career path, and life direction – all while being told these choices will "determine our entire future." Like any wrong choice will lead to an unhappy ending. No pressure at all.

But here's what I've discovered through my dive into ancient philosophy and modern psychology: our ancestors dealt with the exact same fears, and they’ve developed some pretty brilliant strategies that are still relevant today.

The Romans Had It Figured Out

The ancient Stoics had this practice called "Premeditatio Malorum" – which basically means imagining everything that could go wrong. I know, it sounds depressing. But hear me out.

Marcus Aurelius, who ran the entire Roman Empire while dealing with wars and plagues, used this technique. He'd spend time thinking through potential disasters, not to torment himself, but to prepare mentally for whatever life threw at him, and his kingdom.

I tried this approach when I was terrified about taking up the position of head of design at my school’s club. Instead of just worrying vaguely about "what if I’m not artistic enough" I got specific. What if I forgot the deadline of an important post? What if my files were corrupted? What if everyone didn’t like what I designed?

And that was the seed that grew into the game-changer: I prepared for each scenario. Missed a deadline? I'd admit and apologize and finish it the next day. File corruption? I’d make sure to make different copies while I work to prevent that. Criticism? I’d take notes and present my artistic stance clearly.

The result? When I finally succeeded the position from my senior, nothing felt unexpected. I'd already mentally rehearsed the worst-case scenarios, so whatever happened in reality didn’t bother me. In fact, after a year in that position, I was extremely optimistic all the time because there weren’t really any real issues with my work.

Adler's Take on Courage

Alfred Adler, the Austrian psychologist, had a different but brilliant insight. He noticed that a lot of our anxiety comes from two main fears: failing and being rejected. Makes sense – these fears probably kept our ancestors alive when being kicked out of the tribe meant certain death.

But here's the problem: in our safe, modern world, these fears often paralyze us more than protect us. Adler called this the "hesitating lifestyle" – when we spend so much time preparing and planning that we never actually act.

I am the living example of this lifestyle. I'd ponder at my designs for hours, make elaborate study schedules, and create detailed plans for social interactions. All this "preparation" made me feel productive, but really, I was just avoiding the scary part: actually doing things.

Adler's solution? Develop "the courage to be imperfect." - Not the reckless bravery that is confused with courage – actual smart courage. The kind that says, "I might mess this up, and that's okay because that's the only way I'll learn the most."

My Real-World Test

Last year, I had the chance to apply to be an organizer at a summer bootcamp. The old me would have spent weeks crafting the perfect application, then probably missed the deadline because it still wasn't "good enough."

Instead, I used my new approach. I spent 15 minutes doing Stoic visualization: What if they rejected me? Well, I'd be disappointed but at least I tried. What if my essay wasn't perfect? They'd either like my authentic voice or they wouldn't – both outcomes gave me insights on how to improve.

Then I channeled Adler's courage to be imperfect. I wrote an honest essay about my experiences, myself and didn’t withhold any drawbacks that I had. I submitted it without endless revisions, and came to terms that the outcome was outside my control.

Plot twist: I got in. But more importantly, I learned that taking action despite uncertainty felt way better than staying stuck in planning mode.

The Daily Practice

Now here I have what I call my "anxiety toolkit." When I catch myself spiraling about the future or anything, I ask three questions:

1. What specifically am I worried about? (Get concrete, not vague)

2. What would I do if that actually happened? (Make a plan)

3. What's one small action I can take today? (Take action)

This isn't about becoming fearless – fear hints at what we have to overcome. It's about not letting fear make all our decisions for us. Let’s take this toolkit with you and learn why it is so important.

Why This Matters Now

I think our generation faces unique challenges with future anxiety. Social media shows us everyone else's highlight reels while we're living our behind-the-scenes moments. The job market feels unpredictable. Climate change makes the future feel uncertain.

But here's what Marcus Aurelius and Alfred Adler both understood: we can't control external events, but we can control how we respond to them. We can choose to prepare thoughtfully rather than worry endlessly. We can choose to act imperfectly rather than wait for certainty.

"From Anxiety to Action: How Ancient Wisdom Helped Me Face an Uncertain Future"

Your Turn

If you're dealing with future anxiety (and honestly, who isn't?), try this: Pick one thing you've been avoiding because you're worried about the outcome. Spend 10 minutes imagining what could go wrong and how you'd handle it. Then take one small step toward it anyway.

Maybe it's signing up for that challenging class, applying for that job, or having that difficult conversation with that person. You don't need to feel completely confident – you just need to be willing to try.

The ancient Stoics believed that courage isn't the absence of fear; it's action in the presence of fear. And honestly? That’s better advice than anything I’ve ever heard. Sometimes you just need to stop thinking so the fear of the future won't get to you.

What's one small step you could take today, even if you're not completely ready? I'd love to hear about your own experiments with imperfect courage.