Don't speak. If you aren't already, sit down. Take in your surroundings, the small noises that would otherwise go unnoticed. The steady whir of the air conditioner. The rustling sound leaves make as wind slides through in small invisible waves. If you're surrounded by people, hone in on one conversation. What is being said? Are the words being said voiced with an accent unlike your own?
Remember, regardless of where you are or what you are doing, there are countless others who live lives that coincide with yours. The next person you brush shoulders with on the street, try and get a good look at their face. Imagine what their life is like.
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Sometimes we get so caught up in ourselves that we forget others. Strangers. Friends. Loved ones. Lovers. Whenever you feel frustrated or upset, remember there are many others around the world who feel similar emotions in that moment. Some problems are petty. Others serious. I hope you remember that no matter what you are going through or how upset someone or something made you, someone else is suffering from something much worse.
I once heard the saying 'stress is a misuse of imagination'. Next time you feel overwhelmed or like you're losing control of a certain situation you're in, stop what you're doing and blink. Look around you as if you were a different person, a floating imagination hovering above. You might just find yourself surprised by what you see...perhaps things aren't so dire as you think.
