happy talk . What do you do to keep your cool when things get heated?

"Hang in there, hope you feel better."
—Carla, Lynwood, WA

"When things go wrong, stay calm. If you are not able to do something about the situation you can still stay cool and analyse the situation."
—Ramesh, Chennai, TN

"I used to take things personal all the time. I would always think people were talking about me. Now when I hear them talk, I just keep going."
—Limeridge, Ham, Canada

"If you're feeling overwhelmed, just remember, you can't be a superhero all the time. Even Superman is just a regular guy when he's back home on Krypton."
—Linda, New York, NY

"Sometimes when someone says something negative or just weird, remember that usually the other person is not talking about you; those negative words are really about them. You can't help when other people are being 'Hector Reflector's, but you can help yourself to not take words personally and at the same time, help to point the negative feelings away from you and not get caught up in the other person's drama."
—Linda, New York, NY

"Just close the eyes and concentrate for few seconds.....and try to imagine the best situation of your life."
—SanamRaj, Chennai, India

In case you've had a rough day, here's a stress management technique recommended in the latest psychological texts.
The funny thing is that it really works...

1. Picture yourself near a stream.
2. Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air.
3. No one but you knows your secret place.
4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called "the world."
5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.
6. The water is crystal clear.
7. You can easily make out the face of the person you're holding underwater.

—Cate, Princeton, NJ

"I close my eyes and take a break. If I cannot come up with a solution on my own, I'll ask for someone to help me with the situation."
—Mathousca, New York, NY

"I shut my mouth. That way, I don't say something out of haste and I have some extra time to think of what I want to say. If I can't say something proactive, then I take a break and walk away for a bit."
—Linda, New York, NY