Cognitive reappraisal is when you tell yourself that things that are happening that are inherently bad, can actually be good for you. The example Dan Ariely’s column gives is that nervousness from public speaking could also be construed as your body getting pumped up for it.

A common theme in my thoughts comes straight from Zen Buddhism, where things are neither good nor bad, they just are. This is the first part in Uketamo, or the Haguro Yamabushi philosophy of acceptance.

When something happens to you, don’t convince yourself it is inherently good or bad. Think of it as a chance to Uketamo. Skip the middle man, so to speak. This way you can more easily deal with the overwhelming, and can more easily move on.