Take control.
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Pessimists tend to think bad things happen to them because they simply have bad luck or because they don't have what it takes to be successful, says Maddux, when a bad economy or an unfaithful partner could really be the reason for getting laid off or dumped. He recommends aiming for a balance between accepting responsibility for some of the bad circumstances and taking action, such as looking for another job or posting an ad on a dating site. Allow yourself to acknowledge those things that were beyond your control.
