_{No event in any external situation can affect your negatively unless you allow it to. Situations bother you because you generate restless thoughts based on habitual patterns. It is as if someone else is the cause of your problems. In reality, you are the cause. You are also the solution. If your favorite restaurant no longer serves a certain dish, should you be angry at the restaurant? The restaurant is simply that: a restaurant. People are people, just like you. They have their own thoughts; they generate their own responses and actions. You cannot change them. You can only change yourself. The more you look within, the more you will be empowered to handle any situation. You will realize that another dish on the menu might be just as good as your old favorite, and it might even be better. By looking within, you will see that you have the power to act with greater understanding and wisdom.} ¶ by Master Miao Tsan ¶