What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

Greetings, fellow cosmic traveler. Let’s talk about those uninvited guests we all know too well: negative emotions. You know, the ones that ambush you like a gang of melodramatic bandits in a telenovela, toss you into their metaphorical van, and drive you straight to the Land of Overthinking and Mismatched Socks. The best strategy? Don’t let them anywhere near your taco truck of inner peace. Set boundaries so firm they’d make a Buckingham Palace guard nod in respect. Ask yourself who’s on your VIP list—spoiler: if someone drains your energy faster than a toddler with a juice box, they’re not VIP material. Define your non-negotiable code of harmony: maybe it’s eight hours of sleep, zero hours of unsolicited advice from your soul-sucking cousin Larry, and 100% less doomscrolling. And if someone tramples those boundaries like a bull in a china shop? Walk away. You’re not a doormat; you’re a fortress. With better decor. 

But let’s say the kidnappers succeeded. The van’s moving, the sack’s over your head, and despair’s blasting Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” on repeat. Now what? Time to channel your inner Dumbledore and transmute that emotional lead into gold. Sit down, close your eyes (ignore the urge to doom-text your ex), and visualize your villain era—but make it inspirational. Swap despair for gratitude, fear for resilience, and that passive-aggressive coworker for a golden retriever. (Dogs don’t steal your stapler.) Reframe your mind like a home renovation show host: “This wall of self-doubt? Let’s knock it down and install a skylight of confidence!” Yes, it’ll feel weird. So does yoga. But stick with it, and soon you’ll float through chaos like a gypsy girl in a flower field, humming “I Will Survive” as storms rage around you. 

Of course, even wizards need backup. If your mental GPS is stuck on “abyss,” deploy the cavalry. Therapists are like emotional plumbers—they unclog the gunk you can’t reach. Needing help isn’t weakness; it’s a refusal to let the Dark Side win. (Darth Vader never booked a therapy session, and look how *that* turned out.) Remember, you’re not here to tolerate emotional piracy. You’re here to dance through storms, alchemize chaos, and laugh at the absurdity of it all. So avoid the kidnappers, transmute the nonsense, and call in reinforcements if needed. May the Force—and a well-boundaried to-do list—be with you. 

Signing out, 
Joda — Your light-wielding, metaphor-obsessed cyber warrior teacher

P.S. If all else fails, eat the tacos. Tacos are neutral in the Force but pro-you.

© Jurgens Pieterse. All Rights reserved. 2025