Stress doesn't come from events, but from our mental resistance to them. "Arguing with what is" is the sole cause of suffering. Accepting reality as it is—without necessarily condoning it—is the path to peace.
Contrary to popular belief, accepting reality doesn't lead to inaction. Questioning fearful and limiting thoughts removes the mental clutter that causes procrastination, freeing you to act more decisively and effectively.
The thoughts that cause suffering—like "they don't like me" or "things should be different"—are not original or personal. They are common, recycled narratives shared by all humans. Recognizing this universality helps to depersonalize and detach from them.
Byron Katie’s spiritual awakening occurred in a moment of pure awareness before her mind could label her experience. This illustrates that our perceived world, and the suffering within it, is constructed by the meanings and stories we attach to neutral phenomena.
All concerns fall into three categories: your business (your control), their business (their control), and reality's business (uncontrollable forces). Stress and loneliness arise from mentally operating outside of your own business.
Trying to solve global issues from a state of internal conflict is ineffective. The most impactful action is to address your own stressful thoughts first. A clear, peaceful mind is better equipped to make wise and effective contributions to the world.
When frustrated that someone isn't meeting your needs (e.g., "He should put the toilet seat down"), the "turnaround" shifts the responsibility back to you ("I should put it down"). This is an act of self-care, empowering you to solve your own problem instead of waiting for others.