David Brooks in his New York Times op-ed essay "How to Stay Sane in Brutalizing Times" suggests:

• “… start every day with gratitude for the blessings we enjoy”
• remember that “… the crust of civilization is thin”
• practice “… skepticism of the head and audacity of the heart”
  • be “cool, prudent, and humble”
    • be humble — “… cast aside illusions and vanities and see life as it really is”
    • be prudent — “… prepared for the pain that will inevitably come”
    • be cautious, patient, and steady — “… careful of rushing headlong into maximalist action, convinced of your own righteousness”
    • beware of feeling rage, which “… hardens and corrodes the mind of its bearer”
    • “… be empathetic to all those who suffer, not just those on our own side”
  • be “audacious”
    • “… offer others the gift of being seen”
    • “… lead with curiosity, lead with respect, work hard to understand the people you might be taught to detest”
    • practice “… seeing people with generous eyes, offering trust to others before they trust you”

And examine yourself:

_{(NYT gift-link – and cf Prudent Leadership (2008-09-17), What Moderates Believe (2017-08-26), It's a Big Beautiful World (2021-05-03), Most People Seek to Be Good (2023-06-19), David Brooks on Being Human (2023-10-21), ...) - ^z - 2023-11-05}