Our existence is colored by our thoughts.
We cannot control what happens to us, but we do control our thoughts about what happens to us.
“Get busy with life’s purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue – if you care for yourself at all – and do it while you can.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.14
When bad things happen it is our responsibility to pick ourselves up and work on saving ourselves.
The first step is controlling our attitudes and our thoughts about the situation.
Just because we think positively doesn’t mean the outcome will be positive.
Fear will certainly set in when we are faced with an unexpected change.
If we worry about something bad happening that doesn’t mean that it will happen either.
“Sticking with uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos, learning not to panic – that is the spiritual path.” -Pema Chodron
No matter what is happening around us or to us, panic is not helpful.
We have to be willing to have hope that no matter what is going on around us that we have the capacity to handle it.
“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” -Václav Havel
We have to have the faith that our future selves will be able to handle whatever life puts in our path.
If we are positive (or as positive as our circumstances allow) our lives will inevitably be better.
Educational Stoic 