Thoughts:
- Acknowledge the event. You cannot take action if you are in denial.
- Find humor, no matter how dark. When you can laugh at something, you take away its power over you.
- Make plans. Think about whether you need to take action, and when. Then think about what you need to do to take those actions.
Feelings:
- Take a step back. Remember that you don't have to respond to something. You have that choice. You're the one who can manage your feelings, you have control. You're the one responsible for your feelings. If someone wrongs you, don't give them the pleasure of seeing you suffer.
- Distract yourself. If you're falling into a pit of emotion, go do something else. Get a change of scenery, go exercise, try to do some work, go see a movie, go read something.
- Let it out. Rather than stuff away your emotion, letting it fester in your heart, let it out so you can acknowledge it. But after than, remember again that you're the one in charge, and you need to move on so that you can take action or at least continue with your life and taking care of the things that you need to do.
Words and Actions:
These are what you do in the world that sends information back out into the world. Are your words and actions going to affect others? Are your words and actions going to hurt others? Are you going to help or harm others through your actions or words? Are you going to add to the problems that upset you or are you going to stand against these problems?
Even if the world throws its crappiest events your way, and your path of action is heavily constrained, you still have a choice in your attitude of how you respond, and in your consideration of the options you have, limited as they may be.
