Marcus Aurelius: Do not grieve over it, and do not let…

A setback often arrives with a second, self-created injury: the story that this should never have happened and that everything is now ruined. That story can consume more of the day than the event itself. A missed opportunity, broken appliance, awkward mistake, or disappointing decision may be real and inconvenient. It still does not tell you what the rest of your life will be. Begin with the facts. What happened? What needs attention now? What can wait until you are less activated? A composed response does not deny disappointment; it keeps disappointment from taking command. Take one useful step, even if it is small: make the call, revise the plan, apologize, or rest before deciding. You cannot alter the past minute, but you can avoid giving it the next several hours. Let calm make room for the next right move.