"Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for 12 hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime." — Al-Anon Family Groups

Thinking about doing something for the rest of your life is overwhelming. Who could fathom not smoking a cigarette, exercising routinely or being in a tough spot for the rest of their lives? No one, of course. But if you keep in mind the adage that you can get through 24 hours doing almost anything, you are on the road to a smoke-free, exercise-filled life, as well as the ability to weather an emotional storm that would otherwise seem insurmountable. For the rest of your life you can't do anything, but a day at a time you can do anything, possibly even forever.

"Instantaneous decisions are not in our best interest and can lead to bad outcomes. Waiting gives you the opportunity to learn more about the situation at hand and to process it in a more nuanced way." — Frank Partnoy

You know when you get an emotionally charged email or phone call that causes your heart to race and you feel compelled to respond immediately ? You want to say something — now. Well, don't. Pause. Take 10 breaths before hitting send on your computer. Consider sleeping on it before opening your mouth. Take the time to assess what is going on. Why are you so triggered? How can you stay grounded and respond without reacting? Make sure you understand where the other person is coming from. Don't personalize it. Most things have nothing to do with us. Remember that the only person you can change is you. Once calm and centered, decide if you need or want to take action. At the end of the day, you don't want to make a situation worse and have to apologize for your behavior at a later date.