“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”
(Robert Frost)

People often ask if being ScreamFree means not caring what other people think, do, or say anymore. This is a fairly common misconception amongst people who tend to think in extremes. Either you allow their words and actions to boil your blood or you shut down emotionally and tune everything out.

Extremes like these, though common, aren’t helpful. Instead, we ought to aim for the kind of education Frost describes. When someone — a child, a spouse, a co-worker — is rude to you, you don’t have to sink to their level of immaturity. Nor do you have to take the affront personally. You’re a grown person who does not depend on the whims of anyone else to make you feel good about yourself.

Do you care what people think, do, or say about you? Of course. Especially those closest to you. But are you and your next moves determined by this feedback? Of course not. You are an adult, more capable than you think of managing your own emotions, training your own thoughts, and determining your next decisions.

Let that be your lesson plan for today.

Peace begins with pause,