About this quote

Look at the night sky and you see how huge the universe is, and that perspective should change how you treat people nearby. Small fights and insults shrink fast when you remember that every person is unique and irreplaceable. When someone disagrees, you can keep your boundaries without trying to erase them. Try pausing, breathing, and choosing where to spend your energy — it will save time and relationships.

When to use it

• At a late-night project design review at work, I thought to myself, 'He can disagree and still be a person — I'll take the useful points and move on.'
• During a family holiday dinner when an argument about politics flared, I decided to change the subject and reminded myself that their anger doesn't cancel their worth.
• After receiving a harsh peer review on my paper, I told myself the reviewer is human too, so I kept the useful critique and ignored the tone.
• In a local league soccer match when an opponent shouted at me, I focused on my next play and let the insult slide; winning the game felt better than trading insults.