I was thinking along the same lines.
When facing sadness -- like how you feel when you lose a job -- I think the best approach is to sit down someplace in the presence of another so you won't hurt yourself. Don't say anything. Just let yourself feel really sad. Cry if need be. Don't drive a car or anything like that until that deep sadness has worked its course for the moment. And if you let yourself go into it, it will pass. All things pass. And then when you have let the despair work, it just goes away and you can move to feeling more positive and then doing something positive. Do the same thing the next time it comes upon you. Sometimes it is good to take a walk with someone.
But don't do go into despair when you are alone. Just go someplace and sit alone in the presence of others -- even strangers. That is just enough of an inhibition to prevent you from foolishly hurting yourself. Sooner or later, your mind will become distracted by something or someone and you will feel better.
Just let yourself be quiet. A lot of people find it helps to write their thoughts out in tough times -- or draw a picture of what is on their mind. Don't leave it for others to see. It's yours and it is part of letting sad thoughts pass through you.
All things pass. Hard times pass. Depression passes. And life is not complete without those experiences.
And if you still feel sad, you should try to get help. If depression is a long-term problem, medications really can change your life. I have a close friend who did not want to take any medications for many years and got a new lease on life thanks to changing that attitude.
But just forcing yourself to be optimistic probably won't work. At least it doesn't for me.
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