The hustle and bustle of daily life often resemble a chaotic palette where others’ words and actions can splatter like errant brushstrokes, threatening to mar the distinct hue of your personal integrity.

No matter the external pressures or provocations, we must endeavor to maintain our core values and virtues—much like an emerald retains its color regardless of its environment.

How often do you find your mood or principles shifting based on others' opinions or actions? Are you letting the attitudes or behaviors of those around you dictate the shade of your character?

An emerald does not lose its luster because of the dirt around it; it remains steadfast in its brilliance. Apply this to your life by understanding that your control lies within.

While you can't govern someone else's words or deeds, you can certainly control your reactions and maintain your inner equanimity. Do you catch yourself in a reflex of irritation or judgment when faced with a challenging person or situation? Remember the emerald.

It invites you to ask: How can I keep my color—my calm, my kindness, my integrity—today, in the face of whatever life may throw at me?