The human toll in terms of death and injuries is disturbing. But the toll in terms of lost peace of mind for Parisians and freedom-loving people around the world is daunting as well.

Terrorists use incidents like these to disrupt our way of life. For a few short moments, they did–creating a high degree of dissonance. But then our natural defenses kicked in, boosted by technology. Social media kept us instantly informed; Facebook’s Safety Check let us know our friends and colleagues were safe.

As the authorities root out the perpetrators and military operations target the sources behind the attacks, it’s important not to move too quickly back to our normal lives. We need to appreciate what’s happened and consider how we use this experience to change things for the better in the future.