One day, I was reading headlines about a disastrous war, and I wrote a comment on social media saying, "This war breaks my heart." A friend comment pointed out all the other wars going on and that I wasn't thinking about. It made me feel petty, inconsistent, and uninformed, like I was choosing my heartbreak.

I instantly started typing a reply defending myself. I wrote about how all the other wars break my heart, too. I pointed out my friend's flaws. I explained all my good deeds, proving what a good person I am.

But then I stopped. I noticed my heart was beating. I was tense. In that moment, I knew my reply was self-righteous and reactive. I was one tap away from making the situation so much worse. I paused and I became aware of my impulses, my thoughts, my feelings. I took a few breaths and watched as my body's reaction slowly calmed down. I became aware of the whole situation from a gentler place, almost like waking up from a dream.

My friend was probably in pain about the state of the world, just like me. I embraced him in my mind and decided not to reply at all.

-Daniela Labra Cardero, https://www.humin.org/wellbeing-tools/app

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