The Biggest Cost Associated with a Setback

"In parallel manner, when you experience a setback, you are faced with not one challenge but two, and the second—preventing a flood of negative emotions—is usually more critical than the first. This emotional challenge may be secondary in terms of time and causation, but it is often the primary challenge in terms of its impact on us. Usually the harm done us by our emotions—if we allow them to be triggered—is the biggest cost associated with a setback. A sensible person will realize this, and on experiencing a setback, her first response will be to take the steps necessary to prevent the onset of negative emotions. Notice that I didn’t say she will find a way to conceal those emotions; she will prevent them from arising, so there won’t be any negative emotions to conceal."

-- William B Irvine