Epictetus: When I encounter someone anxious, I ask what…

Anxiety often arrives with a long list of imagined requirements: the outcome must go well, people must approve, the schedule must hold, and nothing unpleasant must happen. Looking at that list can be more useful than arguing with the feeling. Which parts belong to your effort, and which parts belong to chance, other people, or time? You can prepare carefully for an interview, but not choose the hiring decision. You can support a friend, but not make their choices for them. You can leave early, but not command every delay to disappear. This distinction does not make uncertainty pleasant. It gives your attention a better job. Put your energy into the preparation, the honest conversation, or the next practical step. Then let the result be a result, not a verdict on your worth. When tension visits today, write down the exact thing you are demanding from the world. See whether you can exchange that demand for a useful action.