Epictetus said it isn't events that disturb us, but our judgments about them. Two people meet the same setback; one is crushed, one shrugs. The event was identical, so something else made the difference, and that something is the story each told about it. This isn't blaming you for your pain. It's handing you a small lever. If your reaction lives partly in your interpretation, then there's a place where you have some say. You can ask whether the harsh story is the only true one. Often a kinder, fairer reading is just as accurate. Today, when something upsets you, separate the plain facts from the meaning you added, and see if the meaning could soften.

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