“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”

Can’t remember if this is Seneca or Epictetus or whatever. But it’s so true. Our fears and anxiety and depression are so much worse than that stubbed toe or broken finger or whatever. Lingers longer. But it also means that our fear that prevents us from having a conversation or introducing ourselves to that special someone or whatever also leads to us suffering more than if we just did the thing and got whatever results we got from the action.