“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems.”
— Epictetus, Discourses
What It Really Means
What stops us isn’t always what’s in front of us — it’s the storm we imagine in our heads.
Epictetus reveals a truth that feels incredibly modern: anxiety isn’t always rooted in reality. It often comes from rumination, projection, and what-ifs that never happen.
This quote reminds us: the real problem is usually smaller than our fear of it.
How the Book Explains It
In Discourses, Epictetus teaches that our suffering doesn’t come from events — but from our judgment of events.
Pain is real. But worry? That’s often optional — and habitual.
By learning to distinguish between what is and what we fear might be, we begin to reclaim our emotional freedom.
This Stoic teaching is timeless: don’t suffer twice.
Real-Life Application
Feeling overwhelmed? Pause and ask:
✅ Is this a real situation — or a future I’m inventing?
✅ What’s actually happening right now?
Anxiety thrives on anticipation.
Calm begins with clarity.
Try journaling:
• What am I afraid of?
• What’s the evidence?
• What can I control?
You’ll often realize: the dragon was just a shadow.
Companion Idea
Pair this with The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer or The Worry Trick by David Carbonell. Both offer tools to stop believing everything your anxious mind says.
Your Turn
Next time you feel panic rise, remember:
You’re not always reacting to reality.
You might be reacting to a story.
Re-write the story.
Start with now.
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