We are all still human, and we have feelings, and yes, egos. When aggressive, angry people confront us, it is sometimes hard to keep that ego in check. Dealing with someone who is acting out of fear and insecurity can also be very tough. It is a hard road, but I can offer some basic suggestions, which have helped me tremendously over the years.

It is important to be mentally prepared to win. Do the groundwork well before you start negotiating and decide on the “path” you are going to take. Positivity will help as also a sense of confidence and self esteem.

The feelings of hopelessness can be devastating. They can make you do things you wouldn’t normally do and think things you wouldn’t normally think. The only way to create something different from what you have already experienced is to add new information, new tools and new resources to your life.

Friday Video: I’ve been living without cash for the past 18 months and have found it to be a good way to save money. If you think you can take up the challenge of living without money, I have a few tips on how to live cashless.

Change is all around us every day and every day our lives our changing. It CAN’T be avoided. We can’t bury our heads in the sand or a favored pillow and pretend it isn’t there. Change can be the great awakener. It can be the best thing that ever happened to you.

With the current interest in secrets about the power of thought, it might be useful to take a look at where the power really comes from. Certainly, thoughts are powerful as a locomotive. But emotions are the fuel to get the train out of the station and down the tracks.

Everything depends on our power of choice. We choose to be in the present, choose to observe ourselves, and choose to develop independence and self-reliance.

Friday Video: Learn how to accept rude people in this video with P.M. Forni, the founder of The Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins.

Without autonomy, we never think for ourselves, needing continual help from parental types like counselors, talk show hosts, ministers, peers, and experts all too willing to do our thinking for us. We need to decide who we are as individuals. Unique. Valued. Self motivated. Independent.

Are you in control of your reactions to your feelings? Are you tired of having anger, anxiety and jealousy a part of your life? You can change your reactions to your feelings and change what is a part of your life experience.