Awareness is the antidote.

Or at least, it's our first step to living with greater peace and control. It gives us a brief window of choice—a space where we can decide what something means to us.

An uncomfortable seat, a chapped lip, an annoying feeling—these are all sensations.
An anger, a sadness, an unpleasant thought—these too are sensations.

When I participated in a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat, my biggest takeaway was this power of awareness. On a good day, I can catch myself in that moment before I assign meaning to a sensation. If it bothers me, I remind myself: it is neither good nor bad; it is only a sensation. I can then choose to ignore it or act to change it—but with conscious awareness and a detachment from reactivity or panic.

How often can you find that window of choice in your own life? Start small. The next time you notice discomfort, pause and observe it as just a sensation. Practice naming it without judgment. Over time, that brief moment of awareness may expand, helping you respond to life with clarity and calm.