These things that you’re worried about: If they really happened, what would be the best way to prepare for them? Not by spending the whole night worrying and wearing yourself out! You’re going to need mindfulness; you’re going to need alertness.

"It’s the same with worry and anxiety, or restlessness. These things that you’re worried about: If they really happened, what would be the best way to prepare for them? Not by spending the whole night worrying and wearing yourself out! You’re going to need mindfulness; you’re going to need alertness. You’re going to need an inner sense of strength that you can draw on, and this is what the meditation is for. It strengthens these good qualities that you can use in any situation if you’re willing to use them. So the best way to prepare for future contingencies is to strengthen the mind as much as you can. Gain practice in being as mindful as possible, as alert as possible, open to new ways of thinking. And also, try to get that perspective on future dangers.

There’s that great passage where the monk is going to a dangerous part of India. He takes leave of the Buddha, and the Buddha says, “You know, the people there are reputed to be pretty savage. What if they curse you?” And the monk says, “Well, I’d think these people are very good in that they’re not hitting me.” “What if they hit you?” “I’ll think they’re very good in that they’re not throwing stones at me.” “What if they throw stones at you?” “I’ll think they’re very good; they’re not stabbing me.” “What if they stab you?” “I’ll think these people are very good and civilized; they’re not killing me.” “What if they kill you?” “At least my death wouldn’t have been a suicide.” Learn how to think in those ways, and you put the dangers and worries of life into a much better perspective."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Questioning the Hindrances"

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