The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Day 35
November 16th - Hope and Fear are the Same.
"Hecato says, 'cease to hope and you will cease to fear.' ... The primary cause of both these ills is that instead of adapting ourselves to present circumstances we send out thoughts too far ahead."
-Seneca, Moral Letters, 5.7b-8
From the Author:
"Hope is gennerally regarded as good. Fear is generally regarded as bad. To a Stoic like Hecato (known as Hecato of Rhodes), they are the same - both are projections into the future about things we do not control. Both are the enemy of this present moment that you are actually in. Both mean you're living a life in opposition to amor fati.
It's not about overcoming fears but understanding that both hope and fear contain a dangerous amount of want and worry in them. And, sadly, the want is what causes the worry."
The idea that Hope and Fear are the same is a new one to me. But I'm fascinated how it's a blindspot that I didn't realise I had in a sense. In the last few years I've lowered my time preference, and I've often thought about the future, and hoped it could be something amazing. Rather, I should just be staying in the now, realising that I need to do the work today, so that these things may come into fruition, without hope, but with determination, focus and work.
I know, without hope, that my future will be bright. I've always said that to myself. I also have no fears for the future because of this. No hope needed, no fear felt.
Shevacai
npub19u…wgppv
2023-11-16 13:59:19
Author Public Key
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2023-11-16 13:59:19Event JSON
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"content": "The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living\n\nDay 35\n\nNovember 16th - Hope and Fear are the Same.\n\n\"Hecato says, 'cease to hope and you will cease to fear.' ... The primary cause of both these ills is that instead of adapting ourselves to present circumstances we send out thoughts too far ahead.\"\n\n-Seneca, Moral Letters, 5.7b-8\n\nFrom the Author:\n\n\"Hope is gennerally regarded as good. Fear is generally regarded as bad. To a Stoic like Hecato (known as Hecato of Rhodes), they are the same - both are projections into the future about things we do not control. Both are the enemy of this present moment that you are actually in. Both mean you're living a life in opposition to amor fati.\nIt's not about overcoming fears but understanding that both hope and fear contain a dangerous amount of want and worry in them. And, sadly, the want is what causes the worry.\"\n\nThe idea that Hope and Fear are the same is a new one to me. But I'm fascinated how it's a blindspot that I didn't realise I had in a sense. In the last few years I've lowered my time preference, and I've often thought about the future, and hoped it could be something amazing. Rather, I should just be staying in the now, realising that I need to do the work today, so that these things may come into fruition, without hope, but with determination, focus and work. \n\nI know, without hope, that my future will be bright. I've always said that to myself. I also have no fears for the future because of this. No hope needed, no fear felt. ",
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