Skill 13
Conform to or leave circumstances I cannot change
If you find yourself in a circumstance that you cannot change, you could simply leave if you can or endure it if you cannot. If my boss has a temper tantrum in a meeting with his employees, the best response may be to simply endure the frustration I feel. Or I could quit my job.

There may be times when your child's behavior triggers anger in a pressure situation outside of your control. You might be a single parent driving home at night in a snowstorm, for example, with a tired and crying three-year-old in the back seat. You cannot leave. So you endure the crying, rising above the anger by breathing and relaxing.

In some cases, these circumstances can be avoided. In other cases, they are thrust upon us.

Next: Skill 14: Give myself a time-out