It is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.
Epictetus
It’s easy to fall into the trap of responding instantly to an event. Someone insults us, a nervous driver cuts us off, or someone provokes us on social media. The key here is to resist the urge to react right away and take a moment to pause and assess the situation. Take a breath and consider what happened and what is the appropriate way to respond.
When I react in an instant, I react based on emotion. Someone once told me that reacting based on emotion is like building on sand. Anything we add on top of foundations made of sand will crumble, and so can our interaction (and the relationship) when we react instantly.
We do not control what others say or do, but we do control what we say and do. Take a moment before responding and you will most likely respond in a more calm, generous fashion.
