“Don’t let the force of an impression carry you away. Say to it, ‘hold on — let me see what you really are. Let me put you to the test.’” — Epictetus
Every day, remind yourself: you’re the observer.
You are not your initial reactions; you’re the observer of your initial reactions, the one who recognizes and tempers them.
You are not your emotions; you’re the observer of your emotions, the one who stems and regulates them.
You are not your pains; you’re the observer of your pains, the one who decides which should be tended to and which should be disregarded.
You are not your desires; you’re the observer of your desires, the one who chooses which to nurture and which to ignore.