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June 11th

JUST DON’T MAKE THINGS WORSE

“How much more harmful are the consequences of anger and grief

than the circumstances that aroused them in us!”

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 11.18.8

he first rule of holes, goes the adage, is that “if you find yourself in a
hole, stop digging.” This might be the most violated piece of
commonsense wisdom in the world. Because what most of us do when
something happens, goes wrong, or is inflicted on us is make it worse—
first, by getting angry or feeling aggrieved, and next, by flailing around
before we have much in the way of a plan.
Today, give yourself the most simple and doable of tasks: just don’t
make stuff worse. Whatever happens, don’t add angry or negative emotions
to the equation. Don’t react for the sake of reacting. Leave it as it is. Stop
digging. Then plan your way out.