For a long time — for most of my life — I believed that my inner state should match objective reality. First, it seemed more honest. Second, I thought it would make me more effective, since I’d be aligned with how things actually are.
But given the last few years, when objective reality has been pretty bleak, I’ve come to understand that you can’t mirror objective reality if you want to get anything done. You have to make sure your inner state is as resourceful as possible — not as accurate a reflection of objective reality as possible. You have to do everything you can to keep yourself in the best shape you can. And if things outside are a mess, the inside doesn’t have to be one too.