We tend to get very emotional when something triggers us. Usually we don't stop to think about whether we should be triggered, whether we should get emotional, whether we are reading the situation correctly vs distorting the facts of the matter because of our fears and insecurities. Usually we just react. We overreact. We say and do impulsive things. We put our foot in our mouth. Better, perhaps, to think before we leap into a baseless tirade that diminishes us.

I start out talking about if there are things people don't like about themselves, why do they keep doing them? And that led to numerous riffs which I personally found very entertaining.

I start out talking about if there are things people don't like about themselves, why do they keep doing them? And that led to numerous riffs which I personally found very entertaining.

We can't control what thoughts pop into our head. We can control what we do with those thoughts. We can victimize ourselves with our thoughts by beating ourselves up over the past, ruminating over resentments and grievances towards others, and catastrophizing about the future and how bleak, hopeless, and scary it is. Or we can process our thoughts, neutralize the negative and irrational ones, and learn how to effectively regulate our moods, anxieties and impulses.

We can't control what thoughts pop into our head. We can control what we do with those thoughts. We can victimize ourselves with our thoughts by beating ourselves up over the past, ruminating over resentments and grievances towards others, and catastrophizing about the future and how bleak, hopeless, and scary it is. Or we can process our thoughts, neutralize the negative and irrational ones, and learn how to effectively regulate our moods, anxieties and impulses.

Since we've all done horrible things in past lifetimes, perhaps we should have some degree of compassion for and understanding of those knuckle scrapers who still do bad, hurtful things. Perhaps we can be more tolerant and forgiving? Food for thought.

Since we've all done horrible things in past lifetimes, perhaps we should have some degree of compassion for and understanding of those knuckle scrapers who still do bad, hurtful things. Perhaps we can be more tolerant and forgiving? Food for thought.

Smiling is a positive, proactive thing we can do that costs no money and can reap great rewards. Smiling stimulates endorphins that make us feel good. Smiling attracts people and makes them more receptive to us. Smiling reduces stress and helps us to think more clearly and objectively. So smile yourself happy. Smile yourself well. Smile yourself successful.

Smiling is a positive, proactive thing we can do that costs no money and can reap great rewards. Smiling stimulates endorphins that make us feel good. Smiling attracts people and makes them more receptive to us. Smiling reduces stress and helps us to think more clearly and objectively. So smile yourself happy. Smile yourself well. Smile yourself successful.

We don't overcome our fear of doing something by not doing it. We overcome our fear by doing. We take action despite our fear. We write a first draft without our harsh critic tearing it apart. We withhold judgment. We assume the first draft will be terrible. We simply get it down on paper. And then we use our critical mind to edit, rewrite, polish, and make it great. It all starts with starting!