Ice, water and steam are the same thing at different temperatures. You’re the same person under different pressure.

CREATIVITY

WHAT THIS MEANS

You are not a different person when you lose your temper or go quiet for a week. Those are states, produced by conditions, and the material underneath is unchanged even though the behaviour looks nothing alike from outside. That is reassuring and uncomfortable at once, because it means the version you are least proud of was also you. Conditions explain a lot and excuse less.

Notice which conditions turn you into which state: hunger, no sleep, being embarrassed in front of people. Change the ones you can before next time. Then give somebody else the same reading when they are clearly running hot.

A QUESTION TO SIT WITH

Which version of you shows up when the pressure rises?

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