Changing the situation

Many situations are difficult to change because we cannot predict them in advance or control them. Seeking to change a situation is only useful when you can anticipate and influence its outcome. We can only change some situations and even then we won't necessarily be able to make the situations completely different.

For example, most of us have put off completing projects at school or at home from time to time. The result is usually a poor grade from a teacher or disappointment from a parent. While you can't change your grade once the project has been turned in, on your next assignment you can start to work earlier and do other things to reduce the risk of a bad outcome. Be aware that you may often see situations as “all or nothing” with regard to whom is in control. The key is determining if you have enough control of the problem yourself to make things turn out at least somewhat better.