Anticipation is awaiting a certain outcome. It’s waiting for the end of a sentence or wringing your hands for the next episode of your favorite show to drop. There is no action required to anticipate something, beyond thinking about it. 

Preparation is taking action to create contingency plans. It’s creating a structure out of anticipation. It’s making sure your earthquake kit is stocked with enough water, or that you have a backup plan in case your internet fails during an important meeting. 

Interestingly, when it comes to negative events, the more preparation you’ve done, the less anticipation you’ll have. 

What are you anticipating that you might be able to prepare for?