It involves active skills that’ll help you to respond differently—with kindness, compassion, gentleness, less engagement—when anxieties, fears, worries, panic, and other sources of emotional and psychological pain show up.

When we can reflect a bit more, often we will find perspective and a different and healthier way to respond. By pausing in your tracks and taking a few moments to let them dwell on your emotions, you will find that you can actively regulate them.

When upset or riled, you learn to take a few breaths and calm yourself down. You try to exercise kindness rather than hate, acceptance rather than judgment, joy rather than anger.