In this article we will approach the subject of a reserve clause. We often think we can control the outcome of our actions; however, there is a difference between control and influence.
This meditation will teach you how to handle the unpredictable outcomes of your actions. Furthermore, practicing Stoicism can help you to overcome and prevent disappointments in your life by learning how to evaluate your expectations.
When your life is going according to plan, you can get the impression that you are in control of outside events. However, life is unpredictable and even the best laid plans are not guaranteed to go as expected. When unpredicted (and often negative) outcomes occur, we may begin to doubt our ability or devalue our efforts. In order to understand how we can improve our mindsets to avoid these negative judgments, we must first address the meaning of a reserve clause and the Stoic’s concept of fate.
Reserve Clause and Fate
A reserve clause is the idea that we should always aim for our best, but we should also be prepared for unwanted outcomes, because we can never predict the impact of external factors. Rather than focus on our desired outcome, we must learn to anticipate all the possible outcomes of our actions, both positive and negative. This preparation will help counter our anticipation. With this in mind, we can calmly focus on the current task. Adopting a reserve clause mentality will help us if our plans don’t meet our expectations, because we will have removed all expectations in the first place.
That being said, the notion of a reserve clause can only be fully understood in relation to the Stoic’s idea of fate. Bear in mind that you don’t need to believe in fate to practice a reserve clause. We often understand fate as something bigger than us. It helps if you imagine fate as a vast network of events that are all connected. These events are all determined, both on a grand scale and in relation to our general lives. However, this determination does not cancel out our free will, according to Stoic philosophy. The Stoics believe our decisions are determined by fate, but that we also practice free will when we make those decisions.
Our mind is a powerful tool that enables us to predict the possible outcomes of future events. That is why we sometimes avoid situations when we believe they could potentially have negative outcomes, when in fact it might have a positive conclusion. Comparatively, we sometimes anticipate an event to end positively, only for it to end negatively.
A reserve clause applies in this matter. We can’t ask fate to work in our favor, just as we can’t control external events, but we can influence the probability of a desirable outcome. For example, if you want to get the best grade on an exam or if you want to get a promotion, then you can study or work hard to achieve that goal. Of course, while you can influence the probability, this doesn’t guarantee that you will get the wanted outcome. We must still leave the rest to fate, since the outcome of our actions is an external event, and therefore not under our control. That is the important distinction between influence and control.
Meditating on a Reserve Clause
Think of a situation where you were 100% sure of the outcome of your action. More than likely, you didn’t get the exact outcome you were expecting. What were the flaws in your thinking? Your ego misguided you into thinking you could control the situation, when in reality you could only influence it.
When thinking about how you can better influence an outcome, it is important to respond positively when things don’t go your way. Know that you did your best and that you can strive to do better next time. Having a reserve clause and an awareness of fate will help you practice positive thought.
Stoics understood the power of words and thoughts, and how easily we can misguide ourselves. We set ourselves up for disappointment when we convince ourselves of a positive outcome, just as we misguide ourselves into never taking the first step out of fear of a negative outcome. If you struggle with these problems, it is highly beneficial to meditate on the concept of fate and a reserve clause. You will learn to stop limiting your expectations to a single outcome and instead prepare yourself for any possibility.
