Recently, I came across some upsetting news. It wasn’t a tragedy or one of those inevitable life events you simply have to accept. Rather, it was news about poor management and its impact on young people.
This news, regarding a situation completely out of my control, made me angry. I’m not someone who considers themselves overly emotional, but certain situations—especially ones you can’t discuss or resolve—do anger me. When that happens, I start to brood.
I find myself replaying imaginary arguments with the person responsible for the situation. And if I can’t quickly convince myself with one of the usual phrases like “that’s life,” “what can you do?” or “stories like this are a dime a dozen,” I can end up brooding for hours.
Today, however, I did something different to break this cycle of thoughts.
In the past, I used to write down and describe what I was thinking and feeling. Recently, I hadn’t felt the need to do so because I’ve been too busy to dwell on things or I’ve been able to quickly forgive the situation and move on.
Today, though, I imagined writing a letter to the person responsible for this incident—not to call them stupid or unload my frustration onto them, but to try and convince them to reconsider their recent decision in light of different perspectives.
I must say, the result was excellent. I doubt I’ll ever share what I wrote, but the process definitely calmed me down. On top of that, it had the added benefit of getting me to write a bit, something I hadn’t done in a while.
So here’s my advice: if you ever find yourself angry with someone due to a difference of opinion, write a letter for yourself as though you’re giving a speech. Highlight your point of view and try to present the situation in the best possible way, considering the consequences of decisions—not critically, but with the goal of benefiting everyone in the long run.
This exercise will not only help calm you but also improve your reasoning and writing skills.