Getting Angry, Then Calming Down
A lot of the frustrations involved with running a business have to do with people.
People who promised things end up disappointing you, people you talk to end up being less than what you thought they'll be, and people you love do not understand why the former make you so frustrated.
The way to deal with such things, I learned over time, is by first letting yourself get angry alone, then gradually calming down alone.
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There's a book I love called A Guide to the Good Life, by the philosopher Willian B. Irvine.
It's a modern exploration of stoicism, meant for the average joe.
It has a whole chapter about anger, and this is one of my favorite excerpts out of it:
What seems vitally important to us will seem unimportant to our grandchildren. Thus, when we feel ourselves getting angry about something, we should pause to consider its cosmic (in)significance. Doing this might enable us to nip our anger in the bud.
I have never, in my life - except for a single occasion - found this quote to be incorrect.
It's universally always better to:
- Identify you are in a state of anger
- Calm the fuck down
- Approach the problem again, with a clear mind
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I gift that book often, and it's taught me a lot about how to deal with the complexities of life.
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