Marcus Aurelius: Add nothing beyond the first report.…

Facts and forecasts often arrive tangled together. An email without a reply becomes proof that someone is angry. A rough performance review becomes a prediction of unemployment. A loved one's symptoms become a fully imagined catastrophe. The first fact may deserve attention, but the added story can drain our ability to respond. Practice naming what you actually know in plain language. “The meeting was moved.” “My friend sounded distant.” “The test result needs follow-up.” From there, ask what information is missing and what action is appropriate. This approach is not coldness toward serious events. It is a way of preserving judgment when emotion wants to write the ending early. Today, when you catch yourself spiraling, separate observation from interpretation on paper or aloud. Stay with the evidence long enough to choose your next step wisely.