# Worry About Today By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-09-09 I overheard a work conversation the other day at a coffee shop. One person, who appeared to be the manager, said to their employee, "Do not worry today; we can worry about that tomorrow." At first, this may be good advice. Then I thought about it more, and it is decidedly managerial bullshit. While I do not know the context of such guidance or direction, it is a perfect example of meaningless dribble that seems valuable but is a house made of cards. Its primary purpose is to distract from thinking on one's own. It works because it comes from an authority figure one is paid to listen to, and it seems reasonable. Not worrying about today seems like a reasonable thing. Worrying causes stress, and putting it off until tomorrow seems like a good trade in the short run. However, one is much more likely to change today's decisions if one worries about it. Worrying about a decision made yesterday is outside of one's control. It's best to only worry about things within one's control, and yesterday is not in one's control. Yet, the manager is advocating for not worrying about today. Isn't today the precise time to worry? What questionable behavior can one be convinced to do without worrying about today? Don't worry about polluting that lake; that's tomorrow's problem. If one has reason to worry about today's decisions, one should worry. The fact that the manager attempts to manipulate the employee's worry says it all. Worry about today because it's all about tomorrow and today is all we have. #### Related Items [[Thinking]] [[Management]] [[Manipulation]] [[Control]] [[Stoicism]] [[Decision-making]] [[Resistance]]