On anger, Seneca noticed that the worst harm often comes not from what happened but from how fast we react to it. There is a small gap between the thing and your answer to it, and in that gap lives your freedom. Anger feels like it acts on its own, but it almost always leaves room for a breath. When someone is sharp with you today, or something goes wrong, you do not have to meet it at the same speed. Wait one beat. Ask whether the reaction you are about to give will help, or just feel good for a second and cost you for an hour. The pause is short. It changes everything that comes after.

Inspired by the old idea of response not reaction. Written by Ugo Charles.