Marcus Aurelius: On waking, remind yourself that you…

Begin the day expecting friction, not because people are hopeless, but because they are human. Someone may be careless, defensive, slow, or absorbed in their own concerns. If you assume every inconvenience is a personal offense, each one will catch you unprepared. Instead, decide in advance how you want to behave when it arrives. You can set a boundary without contempt. You can correct an error without turning it into a verdict on the person. You can leave a conversation without carrying it through the rest of your day. This preparation also includes humility: you will likely be difficult for someone else at some point. Remembering that makes patience easier. Cooperation does not mean tolerating everything. It means meeting imperfect people with a clear mind, doing your part well, and refusing to let another person's poor judgment dictate your character.