What’s the last thing that really upset you? Are you still upset about it? Unless it occurred just a few minutes ago or it was a crisis, then probably not.

Did it get “fixed?” Did it go away?

Or was that thing that upset you not the real issue?

Perhaps the real issue is not the acute event that triggered your reaction: the rude driver, the slow service, the whiny child on your flight.

Maybe it’s a chronic circumstance instead: a poor self-image, an unhealthy relationship, a repeated failure.

In the moment of agitation, it is really difficult to see through the fog of emotions and identify the underlying problem. But now may be the perfect time to ask yourself what — deep down — is bothering you.

So, take a moment now and write it down. Once you name it and see it, then you can take action or make peace with it. Then, maybe it won’t turn you into a tinder box waiting to ignite.