Modern Wisdom #1050 - Donald Robertson - Practical Tools for a Less Anxious Life
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Jan 24, 2026 
Donald Robertson, cognitive-behavioral therapist and Stoic scholar, shares practical psychological tools for anxiety, anger, and resilience. He explains how emotions form, why avoidance fuels fear, and how exposure and worry-postponement techniques work. He also contrasts cognitive and acceptance approaches and revisits Stoic exercises for voluntary emotional control.
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Stop Avoiding; Let Anxiety Process
- Avoid experiential avoidance like distraction, suppression, or over-preparation because it prevents habituation.
- Face and allow anxiety so the brain can process and reduce it naturally.
Postpone Worry To A Scheduled Slot
- When you catch worry start, postpone it to a planned 'worry time' later in the day.
- Write worries down, pocket them, then problem-solve at the scheduled time to cut worry frequency by ~50%.
Delay Problem-Solving During Panic
- When worry spikes, recognize you're in 'emergency mode' and avoid problem-solving then.
- Defer analysis to a calmer scheduled time to use your prefrontal cortex effectively.
