How to Stay Calm in the Eye of the Storm “He who is quick tempered can be insulted,” Sun Tzu explained in the Art of War. These four checkpoints can help you stay cool—and retain your power—even in the most heated situations: • Stay in the present moment. • Observe your feelings. Do not become your feelings. Be aware of your reactions. • Do not take on others’ feelings, but listen to others—and yourself. • Ask yourself, “How should I handle this? Should I react at all?”