Optimize With Brian Johnson | More Wisdom In Less Time

Stoic Negative Visualization Part Deux Not too long ago, we talked about Happy our Rooster. He wasn’t doing so well then and, I’m sorry to say, he didn’t make it.     We talked about Happy and his crowing in the context of remembering to practice alchemizing things that might (at least on occasion!) annoy us into reminders of just how precious the little things in life are.    As you may recall, I connected that wisdom to the master class I created for Emerson on Conquering Toilet Paper 101.     Today I want to continue the conversation and shine a brighter light on the ancient Stoic practice that the modern Stoic William B. Irvine describes as “negative visualization.”    Then I’ll tell you how I practiced that when we couldn’t find the kids for a few minutes yesterday.    First…   The Stoics.    As we discussed in +1 #851, Stoic philosopher William B. Irvine wrote a great book called A Guide to the Good Life.    He tells us that the Stoics “recommended that we spend time imaginin