Negative Visualization Makes You Happy: An Ancient Stoic Meditation

We live in an age of positive thinking and gratitude journals, but negative thinking can have a surprisingly great affect on our mood.

In this video I talk about the ancient stoic exercise called, "Premeditatio Malorum," which is their practice of regularly engaging in small bouts of controlled negative visualization for the purpose of improving their lives and recalibrating perspective.

It's a technique that's stood the test of time so well that a variation of it was incorporated into cognitive behavioral therapy, a modern therapy modality which is used to deal with depression and stabilize
mood.

[ShariLikesFruit]

Applying your suggestions, I tried to imagine if I no longer had access to your channel... And I became instantly more grateful that I DO!

[LgBadluck]

Hey Andrew, I love the ideas stoic philosophy entertains, I've kinda been using them through my life without even suspecting it. Good job please bring us more Stoicism videos.

But what I loved even more is the Acrobatics trick you did with that girls where she spun around behind your neck. Can you tell us the name of it or better yet maybe do a short clip explaining how to do it :)

Love the channel, keep doing what you're doing.

[mallowmarsh]

Excellent! I am pleasantly surprised. Wasn't sure what to expect with that title, ha!

[elgtwli]

you got that roman style haircut to match your stoic outlook

[paccarcrap]

Check out Ruth Heidrich, oldest Ironman Triathlete she can inspire

[thotung]

"Everyone is obsessed with gratitude, everyone is obsessed with Positive thinking" I want to meet these people 😂 Pretty sure that's like a niche countermovement and the majority of people are miserable in the West. But yeah I agree that thinking about how bad things aren't all that bad is a good thing, but it's still positive thinking really.

[yoso]

You are being way to positive. I was thinking of global warming taking us out in 10 years or so and found myself in good spirits. When I hear arguments suggesting otherwise, it depresses me. Who'd a thought. Lol

[becca]

Seriously, don't omit chiropractors like Dr. Bergman. His videos on repairing the spine and neck will give you hope. Omit surgery at all costs as you are now a cash cow for the medical industry.

[creepcentralbroadcast]

ok.. great tips... the whole renaissance humans thing though, very misplaced if you ask me and kind of arrogant.