MODERN MONDAY | Chaos vs. Reason: Practicing the "Anticipation of Evils" Today

Ancient Stoics practiced Premeditatio Malorum—the "premeditation of
evils"—as a mental exercise to visualize potential future misfortunes
beforehand, stripping fate of the 'element of surprise' and replacing shock
with a kind of mental preparation.

But in 2026, with the 24-hour news cycle and infinite scroll pulling at us, where does preparation end and the risk of catastrophizing begin? When does preparing for a storm turn into drowning in a simulation of one?

What We’ll Explore:
At this gathering, we aren't just looking at the textbooks; we’re looking at our real, messy lives.

We will dive into:
• The Traditional View: What did Seneca and Marcus Aurelius actually
mean by "rehearsing" trouble?
• Friend or Foe?: Inspired by insights from this week's shared article,
psychotherapist Antonia Macaro, we’ll ask: Is this practice a protective
shield or a superstitious trap?
• The Modern Friction: How do we practice "negative visualization" without
ruining our mental health or falling into a doom-loop?

The Goal: To search for the "Sweet Spot", where premeditation doesn't cross over to anxiety and starts building genuine resilience and gratitude.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there,
V♥

Resources:
To get your mind moving before we meet, check out this excellent
article on the topic:
Premeditatio Malorum: Friend or Foe? by Antonia Macaro