Epictetus taught that it isn't events that disturb us, but our judgments about them. Two people get the same news and respond completely differently, which means there's a gap between what happens and how we take it. In that gap is your freedom. You can't always choose the situation, but you can choose whether you snap or steady, whether you spiral or pause. This isn't about being calm all the time, that's not real. It's about remembering, even a second late, that you get a say. The pause may be tiny at first. With practice, it gets a little longer, and so does your choice.

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