Day 13: Lower the temperature first

Have a think: Lower the temperature first

The walk: Urgency can make aggression feel intelligent. Stoic discipline inserts a pause between impression and response. This verse offers a similar refusal to turn fear into frantic retaliation.

The thought: Holding peace does not mean denying danger or surrendering responsibility. It means refusing to add heat merely to feel powerful. A calmer answer can remain truthful, firm, and ready to protect.

A task for today: Before answering one adversarial request, remove the sentence written to win. Keep the fact, the boundary, and the next workable step.

Sources:
Exodus · Epictetus · Nonviolent discipline preserves truth while refusing escalation · Dhammapada