Stoic Studies: Negative Visualization
4What is negative visualization?
I guess that is as simple as one can put it: the opposite of thinking positive. However, when we apply this to the stoic’s life, we discover a means to elevate the consciousness beyond the mundane. We can turn a bad situation into a spiritual experience.
Last year, I had 2 car accidents within a few weeks of each other. Both were deer hits. The year before, I hit one. After the second accident, I was completely dumbfounded. I was angry because of all the money it would cost me, but I was confused as to how this could happen twice in a row. The money took a back seat to my shock. I cursed all deer, in all stages of life. I just hated them for hating's sake. Soon, that turned into a joke, where I just made light of the situation. I thought, at best, it could be serendipitous. At worse, a horrible display of chance and bad luck.
Still, knowing I couldn’t change anything, I decided to think about what I would do if I hit another one. Would I give up driving? Could I die? Could I be paralyzed? After all the questions, all I knew was that I had to go to work. The path I took was the safest way to work. And as I began to reason my way around it, I knew that I would not live in fear of crashing. Instead, I would prepare myself each day for what may come, and go forth in spite of the fear I held for all the possibilities that may come to bear.
When one can go into a situation having thought of the worst of outcomes, it becomes easier to face the future. Each morning I got up thinking that I could hit another one just as easy as I hit those 3. I got into my car knowing I could die, as well. Thinking I could perish at any moment. Everything became a risk. And each time I thought of what I would look like in my grave. What my family would do in case of my death. I thought of where the deer would be. I thought of ways to avoid them. I followed behind bigger vehicles to be shielded, hoping that I could avoid the deer by letting the truck take the hit.
Stoicism asks that you accept the inevitable and not fight against it. To meditate on it. To understand the way forward is not to push against what has already happened. We know that death is inevitable and can never be avoided. Each day is but a blessing and a gift. Negative visualization helps you to see it all as it is without regret and without anger.
This is why the IRREGULAR MAN accepts that he is already dead. Death is just the unknown, inexplicable, final destination. And even then, that is but another beginning. #stoicism #stoic #negativevisualization
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