The courage and ability to accept what you cannot change is a skill that, probably, no one in this world will point out or teach you. This skill is gained only through repeated failures and repeated falls, and it might be said that it is one of the most defining skills for a calm and stress-free life. With this in mind, here are some examples of situations where doing nothing is the best possible choice.

1. Talking to Someone You Care About

What you want to do: Try to impose your knowledge or, at best, try to “solve the problem.”
What you should do: Stay silent, listen to the other person, and do nothing afterward.
It’s similar to trying to impress someone you’ve just met. In these situations, the best decision is to do nothing and just be yourself. Another case is trying to gain the attention of someone who is emotionally unavailable. Do nothing.

2. Meditation

What you want to do: Meditate in the most proper and effective way possible.
What you should do: Do nothing and focus on your breathing.

3. Work Life

What you want to do: Accept and do everything assigned to you to the best of your ability, even at the cost of sacrificing personal moments and sleep.
What you should do: Refuse to take on anything beyond your main responsibilities and do them in a way that doesn’t require any extra time beyond what you’ve allocated.

4. Experiencing Thrills from Alcohol, Cigarettes, or Drugs

What you want to do: Experience the feelings from each of these to the fullest.
What you should do: Experience none of them.

5. Traveling

What you want to do: Maximize the number of places you visit, take photos, and share them on social media.
What you should do: Do nothing and fully enjoy where you are. Ideally, just observe, stay silent, and savor the place you’ve gone to as much as you want.

6. Facing the Death of Loved Ones or Friends

What you want to do: Help in every possible way.
What you should do: Be present.