Epictetus put a powerful tool in our hands: between an event and our suffering sits a judgment, and the judgment is ours. The rain isn't a disaster until you decide it ruined the day. The delay isn't a catastrophe until you name it one. This isn't denial; some things are genuinely hard. But many ordinary troubles get their sting from the story we wrap around them. When you notice you're upset, look for the judgment underneath, the should, the unfair, the can't. Loosen it, and the feeling often loosens too. You can't always change what happens. You can almost always reconsider what you've decided it means.

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