stoicism - Imagination causes more suffering than reality does

Seneca said:"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality."
Seneca speaks to the power of our minds to create unnecessary distress. Often, our fears and anxieties are rooted not in actual events but in our anticipation of what might happen. This mental suffering can be more intense than the real challenges we face. By recognizing this, we can reduce our unnecessary anguish by focusing on the present and dealing with real problems as they arise. Seneca encourages us to distinguish between imagined and actual suffering, freeing ourselves from the burden of needless worry and living a more peaceful, resilient life.
This is one of the teachings of Stoic philosophy.
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