1. If It’s an actual Dude™, are you getting mad at The Actual Dude™ or getting mad at a Made Up Supervillain Version of the Dude who is really easy to get really mad at? Sometimes you’ve got to take a step back, pull out your Hanlon’s Razor and reality-check whether you’re making a monster out of a moron. Infuriating ≠ evil.
2. Are you letting yourself be enraged by something that is, when put in perspective, only Worthy of Mild Annoyance™? If you’re starting to sound like a callout post when you talk/think about it then maybe it’s time to cool the jets.
3. What can you do about it? Sometimes it’s cathartic to let yourself be mad for a bit, but if you’re regularly getting Über-mad over something then you should consider what you can personally do to fix the Thing™. If there isn’t any practical action you can take then…
4. Why are you allowing this thing to upset you? Initial feelings may be beyond your control but dwelling on them is something you have power over, so why are you giving this Dude™ or Thing™ that you don’t like power over you?
5. Who’s actually winning if you allow this Dude™/Thing™ a rent-free all-access pass to occupy your time and brain space? Because it doesn’t sound like it’s you. I guarantee that who/whatever you’re mad at, the person(s) responsible have spent far less time thinking about you personally than you have thinking about them.
6. Who’s benefiting from you being mad? Sometimes it’s literally no-one (not even you). In which case, why not let it go. And sometimes the outrage is being manufactured to further profit/ engagement/a political cause. In which case you should really let it go.
