Don’t Become So Preoccupied With Your Life That You Forget to Live It

“One cannot attain a life free of anxiety if one is too concerned about prolonging it.” Seneca, Letter 4.4.

I was doing my morning reading, which today was from Seneca’s Letters on Ethics, when I came across the quote above. I figured I would share what came to mind with my community.

Why do we worry so much?

I struggle with this, too, but I’m trying to find my way out of that habit so I can enjoy life. Reading that quote from Seneca, a Stoic philosopher who lived from 4 BC to 65 AD, reminded me of Matthew 6:25–34, where Jesus says:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on… Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”1

Seneca advised that we need to rehearse letting go every day so we can live a life of equanimity. I know it’s hard, and that’s why we need this kind of training: practicing every day how to let go.

Reading Seneca this morning also reminded me of Bryan Johnson, a 49-year-old millionaire whom I mentioned in my post Chasing Immortality: A Philosophical and Political Reflection. In that post, I mentioned that:

“He spends $2 million a year trying to stay young. His regimen includes waking up at 5 AM, taking 100 pills daily, ceasing to eat after 11 AM, and going to bed at 8:30 PM. He even sleeps alone for optimal rest.”

Well, back in the summer, it was reported that Bryan Johnson disclosed that he has autoimmune gastritis (AIG), a type of gastritis that occurs when your body “attacks the cells that make up your stomach lining.”2 Apparently, there is currently no cure for this condition.3 He is not stopping his journey to staying young and will probably spend more money trying to find a cure for his AIG.

All of this made me reflect on what Seneca is trying to teach us:

We cannot live a peaceful life if we are constantly afraid of losing it.

We want to live a healthy life, of course. Eating well, exercising regularly, and avoiding unnecessary risks are all worthwhile. But overwhelming ourselves with worries about the future, how much time we have left, making decisions based on the fear of losing something we have, and constantly thinking about things that are beyond our control do not help us live longer. Even if we do live longer, this constant worrying will not lead to a good life.

So, the bottom line is: Don’t become so preoccupied with your life that you forget to live it.

  1. https://www.bible.com/bible/114/MAT.6.25-34.NKJV ↩︎
  2. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2026/07/06/biohacker-bryan-johnson-reveals-autoimmune-gastritis/90818745007/ ↩︎
  3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24217-atrophic-gastritis ↩︎

74 thoughts on “Don’t Become So Preoccupied With Your Life That You Forget to Live It”

  2. So powerful and so important, Edward. Learning to let go…learning how to acknowledge the things we were never meant to control…some of the hardest lessons in the world for those of us who believe we must be hyper-aware and prepared for all possible calamities. Deluding ourselves by claiming we’re focused on “preparation” chips away at the joy each day can bring. My dad often said, “don’t go looking for trouble” whenever I’d stew about something. Good golly, his wisdom still holds. Thanks for all of this…thanks for being you. Today, on Veteran’s Day and all year long. 💝

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  3. I am prone to worry and anxiety. This post was a good reminder try to live each day without worry. I’ve had lots of anxiety lately over a family member who was in ICU, but is doing better now. We don’t have a good relationship and I believe that makes the situation worse. I do find photography relaxing and calming.

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    1. I know, it’s hard sometimes, especially when it involves a family member. All we can do is the best we can under those circumstances and try to stay calm. Yes, photography is very relaxing, especially when focusing on nature, as you do.

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  4. You have to live life, Edward. You don’t have to make foolish choices but you can’t be paralyzed with anxiety that something bad will happen. Your millionaire example just goes to show you that you can’t hedge your bets about everything in life.

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    1. Exactly, Robbie! Yes, the millionaire. I feel sorry for him because he isn’t living life freely. We can’t avoid death, and he’s still a young man. If, for whatever reason, he dies tomorrow, all he’ll be remembered for is the money he spent trying to extend his life. Meanwhile, you’re out there in the bush, taking wonderful photos, enjoying nature, and living life. That’s the better way! Thank you, my friend.

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  5. Edward, what a profoundly observant post. It’s so true… Life is made up of little moments, little experiences all stitch together and it’s easy to lose sight of them when you’re so preoccupied with the “big picture.” Thanks for a great reminder. 🙏😎👏

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  11. Good advice, and a great reminder to live in the moment and see what arises, instead of struggling to control every uncontrollable outcome. It’s hard not to fall prey to those looping anxieties, I guess that’s human nature.

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    1. Thank you, Ruth! Yes, human nature tends to make us worry, and it’s so hard to change that. But we must keep trying. A little improvement here and there is better than losing control and allowing anxiety about the unknown to take over.

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  12. This post was music to my ears, Edward! Worrying truly steals life—the life we have to live now. Your title (and last sentence) is a precious guideline for a good, meaningful life. While reading your words, my cats came to my mind. They do not worry about tomorrow—not even worried if they will have food. They live in the now, enjoying the moment and the food, and trust that their needs will be met somehow. There’s a surrender to life that empowers their state and life. Precious words and very resonating, my friend. Thank you! Deeply enjoyed! Sending light and blessings to you, always! ✨🙏

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    1. Thank you, Susana! Your example about the cats is perfect. That’s a big difference between cats and dogs. Now that I think about it, dogs are the opposite of Stoics. They are always worried about their surroundings and become agitated at the slightest provocation. I know it’s hard work, but it’s a worthwhile pursuit to let go of worries about things that are not under our control and to live more in the present. Blessing to you, my friend. 🙏🏼

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  13. Thinking of Bryan. I like to garden. I was advised to occasionally introduce a bit of dirt. So pull up a carrot, rub most of the soil off. Then enjoy it. A way of reminding the immune system what it’s meant to do. Call it a “fire drill” for the body. Balance involves a bit of oscillation.

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    1. Thank you, Jasper. I grew up hearing the same advice: a little dirt is good for building up your immune system. I think Bryan is a little too clean and perfectionistic. A person can’t live that way for too long, it’s just boring.

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  15. I struggle with worry more than I would like to admit, especially when thinking about tomorrow and things I cannot control. I often have to remind myself of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 and take things one day at a time. It’s not always easy to let go, but I’m learning that I can spend so much time worrying about life that I forget to live it 🙏

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  16. A thoughtful reflection! I agree that the fear of losing life can sometimes prevent us from truly living it. Seneca’s wisdom and Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25–34 beautifully converge on the importance of letting go of unnecessary worries and trusting the present moment. Taking care of our health is wise, but allowing anxiety to dominate our lives defeats the very purpose of living. Life is not merely about adding years to our existence; it is about adding meaning, peace, and gratitude to the years we have.👌

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  18. Amen and Amen! God has the final say so anyway, and no amount of money can change that; no matter how many pills you take. Thank you for the reminder, Ed. I backed off from social media for a few days and took time to slow myself and be present; to enjoy the changes that I am incorporating. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Amen, Sandra! There are plenty of people in their late 90s and well into their 100s who didn’t spend that kind of money to get there. He is still a young guy, so I’m not sure what he is trying to accomplish. Immortality is my guess, but he’s never going to get there. With the schedule and regimen he is following, I’m not sure he would want to live that way for the next 50 years. Sounds boring, if you ask me!

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    1. You’re welcome, Rosaliene. I know, but he says it has nothing to do with it, which I doubt, especially because of what you said. He’s taking way too many pills, not to mention the injections, blood transfusions, and everything else he’s doing. Insane!

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    1. I know, just incredible. The wisdom we gain from reading Seneca and others is amazing. I agree with you about Johnson. I’m not sure what kind of personal experience led to this obsession, but it’s definitely not healthy. The amount of money wasted chasing this venture is what saddens me the most.

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      1. So true. Imagine the good that could have been done with that money. It’s like the billionnaires obsessed with space travel—not for science but purely for leisure. When there are so many people in need around the world, it just feels wrong to basically throw away money just because you can.

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        1. Exactly! He’s been doing that for years, so that’s a lot of money that could have been put to better use. Space travel is another obsession. Personally, I don’t see the benefit when we have so many problems to solve here on Earth.

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  22. Great post, Joyce Meyer wrote a book, “Eat the cookie….buy the Shoes”, how we can be obsessed with discipline and perfection. Causing us to live in guilt

    By the way, Seneca’s older brother Gallio was in the bible Acts 19:12-17, he was not a Stoic Philosopher, but was known for being calm.

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    1. Thank you. I read her book, Battlefield of the Mind, and thought it was excellent. Yes, I read that in Acts 18, and Paul had some interesting encounters with the Stoics. There are many similarities, although they don’t believe in the same God we do.

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  26. Hey Ed,

    You really nailed it! I think one of the best things in life is when we stop feeling like we have to make every moment perfect. By the way, I’m working on that too, and honestly, I’m having a blast with it!

    Cheers!

    ——— GMJoe™ ——— https://gmjoe.org/engagements/

    Joe Cozart GMJoe™ Consulting Clarity. Strategy. Sovereignty. Author, Consultant, Writer The Olive Ann Hotel Lobby Grand Forks, ND 58201 Mobile: (701) 885-2684 Email: joe@gmjoe.org

    Website: https//:GMJoe.org

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  27. What a great reminder for all of us, Edward! This brings to mind the adage my mother lived by: Take one day at a time. That’s not to say that she didn’t plan for the future, but she tried in instill in us that we shouldn’t waste time today worrying about what might happen tomorrow.

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    1. Thank you, Janet. Your mother was right, of course. We plan, but we shouldn’t overthink or overwhelm ourselves in the process. The mind is a powerful thing, and it can take us to some strange places if we let it.

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  28. Seneca’s my boy! lol

    living in the early empire – he tapped into the realism and complexities of people living that particular era and showed them the way to navigate it. no identity fluff, no republic language – just real insight grounded on constraints he shared with his fellow Romans.

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