When you interact with the world around you—the unpredictable dog on your morning walk, the storm that cancels your plans, or the traffic jam when you’re already late—approach these situations with a spirit of kindness and simplicity.

Remember, you are equipped with reason; these external factors are not. They act according to their nature, without thought or malice. It’s not personal. So, why respond with frustration or anger to something that doesn’t have the capacity to reason?

Consider this in your daily encounters: how often do you find yourself getting upset over a spilt coffee or a crashed computer? These things can’t think or feel; they’re not out to get you. It’s your choice to meet such challenges with the best of human qualities.

Can you respond to life’s little tests with patience and clarity, instead of irritation?

Can you see these moments as opportunities to practice your own rationality and to reflect on the stoic virtue of remaining undisturbed by what you cannot control?