So. I don’t know whether this is true. But I keep thinking the Stoic tools are connected. Let’s see.

You feel unhappy. There are a couple of possible reasons.

• Your life is actually fine, but you don’t feel fine about it. Negative Visualization to the rescue! Remind yourself that it could be worse.
  • Compare “me now” to the hypothetical “me later”, looking back on you doing this particular activity right now, for the last time.
  • Compare “me” to “someone else”, looking at your life and thinking, that’s a good life, better than mine anyway.
  • Compare “me now” to “me later”, looking back on your life right now and being nostalgic.
  • Bonus points: at bedtime, consider, did you remember to use the above described tool today?
• Your life, admittedly, has some problems.
  • Look for the silver linings.
  • Imagine that all this is happening to toughen you up. That you’re being tested.

There are also some general techniques.

• Regarding feeling unhappy:
  • Do some hard stuff on purpose. It will feel unpleasant in the moment. But it will be good training for other unpleasant times.
• Regarding seeking out happy moments:
  • Practice awe.
  • Practice delight.

Does this work? What do you think?