Quiet Is a Skill

“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” -Seneca Today, practice rehearsing calm instead of catastrophe. The mind loves to play out anxious scenes. What could go wrong? Who might disapprove? How it all might fall apart. However, the Stoics remind us that most suffering exists only in the imagination. When you notice yourself rehearsing worry, pause and redirect that same creative power toward peace. Close your eyes and picture yourself responding with grace: breathe evenly, speak kindly, and stay grounded. See yourself handling the challenge not with fear, but with quiet confidence. This exercise isn’t about denial; it’s about choice. You’re training your imagination to serve your highest self, not your fears. Each time you visualize calm, you strengthen that neural pathway, your body begins to associate peace with even the most chaotic situations. At the end of the day, reflect on one moment when you replaced an anxious thought with a calm image. What shifted in your mood, your body, or your energy? Peace isn’t something you wait to feel, it’s something you practice becoming.