How shall we handle these unpleasant condi-
tions, situations and people?
They fall into two general classifications with
all sorts of variations in between. We shall consider only
the two extremes and let the handling of variations follow
the solutions of the major classifications.
First, there are the unpleasant conditions, sit-
uations and people about which little or nothing construc-
tive can be done. Of course, something probably can be
attempted about almost anything. But it often isn't worth
the effort. Just because you are not getting anywhere by
butting your head against a stone wall is no reason to
increase your efforts and butt your head against the same
stone wall even harder.
There are those who will exhort you to persist
in overcoming all obstacles, to achieve your goal no matter
what the cost. I suggest that it is more intelligent and
productive to reach a sound judgment concerning how-
or even if-you will proceed in a certain endeavor. It
could well be that the same amount of effort might produce
much more results if directed to other obj~ctives.
So let us assume that you are involved in an
unpleasant condition or situation, or with an unpleasant
person, and you have decided that nothing constructive
can or should be done. That does not cause the unpleasant-
ness to vanish. It still remains, and, for your own peace
of mind, you will have to deal with it.
Here's how:
First, take the wise advice of William James of
Harvard, the father of applied psychology, who taught his