“And so help me, I whispered to myself: ‘Five years down there, at least. I’m leaving the world of technology and entering the world of Epictetus.’” These were the thoughts of James Stockdale as his A-4 airplane was shot down over North Vietnam. It was September 9, 1965 and it was his 201st combat mission. What prepared him for this moment was The Enchiridion, given to him three years prior. Enchiridion means “ready at hand” and was compiled by Arrian, a second-century pupil of Epictetus. These notes have survived the centuries to give light to Epictetus' insights into the Stoic emphasis on what is in our control. Stockdale embraced these teachings and took this opportunity to mentally prepare himself for the hardship that was to come. He did not look away from his situation or wish for something else. He accepted the moment and began to brace himself for the difficulties ahead.
Premeditatio malorum or the premeditation of adversity is a modern term for the Stoic practice of accepting life's difficulties and mentally preparing for the road to come. Modern psychologists understand this with the cognitive behavioral therapy concept of decatastrophizing. This is an exercise where the client in session is asked to imagine the absolute worst-case scenario in a situation and how it would be managed. That exchange leaves the client with an action plan if the worst case plays out. Seneca the Younger outlined this practice in his writings: “If an evil has been pondered beforehand, the blow is gentle when it comes.”
The premeditation of adversity is not negative thinking or the obsession with the future. This is a practice of evaluating the situation as it is and how it could evolve. We may not control the events themselves, but we can control how we respond. The actions of others and outside events may impact us and we may not be able to influence them. If a plan is not possible, even considering the events will make the stress more manageable. Imagining the worst-case scenario will take the shock away when the events do come to pass. Naming the feelings we may face is practical work, done before the stress peaks. Often the thoughts in our head could be worse than how reality plays out.
Matthew 26:38–39 states: "Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'" According to the Gospels, Jesus knew what was coming, and in the Garden of Gethsemane he chose obedience to the Father’s will. He did not have control over outside events and put his faith in the Father for the actions to come. He foresaw the arrest, torture, and crucifixion and accepted it. The fear was still human and he was filled with emotion. Knowledge of what was to come did not make this easier for Jesus, but it gave him the ability to face these trials with faithfulness and resolve. Most of us will never face trials of this magnitude, but the same practice can steady us through the ordinary hardships of life.
It was a hot, sunny, humid summer day in Miami, twenty-three years ago. We had just finished the week on the cruise ship for our honeymoon and it would turn out to be a long day. In the morning, we followed strict instructions departing the ship in long lines with the 3,500 other passengers. This included finding our luggage and going through customs. This was a few years after the 9/11 attacks and security was tight even at the cruise terminal. These moments of long waiting were amplified by the fact that I was starting to come down with some severe cold and flu symptoms. The flight was fully booked and we joined yet another line to go to our assigned seats. Looking out the window before boarding the plane, the mirage effect was evident as the runway blurred. It was a great relief when I finally sat down in my seat on the plane.
I can remember that moment clearly today. The coughing and sneezing and fever symptoms that I was feeling must not have been a comfort for the people around me. This was a short moment in time and I felt that I would be home soon. We would arrive in Charlotte to go on our connecting flight and be home by the end of the day. We weren't taking off. With a plane that was packed full of people, we were informed by the pilot over the overhead speakers that there was a mechanical problem with the plane. It would take some effort to investigate. Time felt like it was slowing down. We missed our takeoff time, but I thought that was ok. I told myself that we would be a little late but still catch our connecting flight. We just sat there. My coughing intensified while I read the airline magazine over and over. Then we were told that the problem would take longer to fix and the power was shut down to fix the plane. We lost air conditioning which compounded my fever. We had missed our connecting flight and were still on the Miami tarmac.
This was a moment that I had no control over. I was stuck 1,400 miles away from home, sick, in a very warm steel tube and had no way of knowing what the plan would be. Although this was nothing like being shot down over North Vietnam or the intense pressure Jesus knew in the garden, I still had a moment of panic. Due to the effects of the illness I could not think straight and wanted nothing more than the comfort of my bed. I did not know the term premeditatio malorum until years later, but I followed this practice on the plane. I began to think of worst-case scenarios in my head and every single one of them brought me to the same conclusion: that we would find a way home. These ideas centered me, even when experiencing the worst of my symptoms.
The journey home was not ideal, but I was correct. We did find a way home. After the flight left Miami we were given directions from the flight staff on how to proceed with finding another flight. We worked with the airlines once we landed in Charlotte and after a short stay in a hotel, we were on our way home. I was still sick but was able to rest on the plane knowing this problem was resolved. Looking at the worst-case scenario in Miami and the actions that would be required to get through this hardship gave us the opportunity to plan our next steps. We were able to forge on.
Musonius
References:
Stockdale, James B. Courage Under Fire. Hoover Institution Press, 1993.
Epictetus. Enchiridion.
Seneca. Moral Letters to Lucilius, 76.34.
The Holy Bible, ESV. Matthew 26:38–39