Let go of the negativity
from A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William B. Irvine
How to Apply This
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Stop and breathe when something bad happens.
Although your first reaction to a negative situation may be to get upset or angry, you need to take a step back. A few deep breaths will help you control your response so you can continue with the rest of the exercise. -
Visualize the negative situation happening to somebody else.
Maybe your car has broken down, or you have lost your job, and it feels like the end of the world. Think about a friend or family member in the same situation. Picture it vividly and think about how they would react. -
Think about the advice you would give them if the negative situation actually happened to them.
Would you agree that it’s the end of the world and they should panic and get angry? Of course not. You would most likely tell them that things will work out and the situation isn’t as bad as they thought. Considering the advice you would give to others will help you shift your perspective and let go of your negative reaction to a bad situation.
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