Starve Trouble, Find Inner Peace

A long time ago, I was a very argumentative person. Whether online or in real life, if I thought something was wrong or someone said something incorrect, I’d jump in to argue with them. I genuinely believed I was "defending justice," "not being bullied," and "making my position clear."

But then, I realized I wasn't happy at all. If the other person replied with one sentence, I'd feel compelled to reply with another; if they said a few more, my anger would intensify, and I’d retort with even more. With all the back and forth, what started as a small matter often escalated into an unnecessary emotional storm. I thought I was winning, but in reality, I was losing my good mood for the entire day.

Then one day, a friend said something that completely changed how I reacted: "The best way to end trouble is to starve it to death."

This sentence was like a slap in the face, yet also a ray of light. I suddenly realized that many troubles aren't difficult to solve; they persist because we keep feeding them.

Sometimes, Being "Right" Isn't What Matters Most

I began to understand that sometimes, in an argument, it doesn’t truly matter who is right or wrong. When the other party is aggressive, or the atmosphere shifts from "communication" to competition, I'm now even willing to say, "I'm sorry," and leave it at that. It's not because I did anything wrong, but because I profoundly understand that my time is precious.

I'd rather use the half-hour saved from a debate to enjoy a good cup of coffee, take a walk, write, or even just be in a daze. I refuse to continue feeding a dispute that will only leave me physically and mentally exhausted.

So, I started starving it. I choose not to respond. When someone provokes me, I quietly close the dialogue box. When people criticize me behind my back, I don’t try to prove my innocence. When someone makes unreasonable demands, I just smile and remain silent.

This doesn't mean I'm cowardly; it means I understand that unworthy people and things aren't deserving of my energy. Because I know that if you feed it, it will survive; if you don't feed it, it will die on its own.

Thank you for reading!