Epictetus said it plainly: people are disturbed not by things, but by their opinions about things. The traffic, the comment, the canceled plan—these are just events. The story you tell yourself about them is where the suffering usually lives. This is good news, because while you often can't change the event, you can examine the story. Is it as bad as it feels? Is the meaning you've attached really the only one? Today, when something rattles you, try to catch the thought riding on top of it. You might find the event was smaller than your reaction. Your peace lives more in your judgments than in your circumstances.

Inspired by the old idea of dichotomy of control. Written by Ugo Charles.