A bounty hunter, an archer, and a genius walk into a bar. No words are exchanged, but all share a similar thought: I wish I were a cloud.

Knowing this can’t be the case, the bounty hunter orders a drink, the archer a coffee. The genius skips the drinks and lights a cigarette. The three men share a peaceful moment at the bar, knowing that in a few minutes, they’ll have to face the world again. The world demands performance, and they’ll each give their best on their own stage. 

They think again, I wish I were a cloud, standing up from their stools.

It’s kind of a dry joke, I know, but these three characters left a serious impression on me. The bounty hunter’s name is Spike, the archer is Clint, and the genius, Shikamaru. They’re all from different shows and comic books, but they share defining traits that made their character archetype captivating to me. Being able to roll with the punches, or to keep a level head in any situation, are things I took to heart.

Whatever happens, happens

When problems pop up, so too does this phrase. Spike says it in situations where he’s done all he can do, or he’s about to give his last attempt. Clint is more of a sigh-and-drink-a-cup-of-coffee-about-it guy. The genius Shikamaru, cursed with laziness, will say “What a drag,” when a problem arises.

From an outside perspective, it sounds like they don’t care what happens around them. This isn’t the case. They care a great deal about everyone and everything close to them. So, what does the phrase, “Whatever happens, happens,” mean?

It means trying your hardest and changing the things you can until there’s nothing left you can control. Broken down further, if the problem is far outside your reach, there’s no point in worrying about it. 

This phrase, or the idea of it, has been my favorite tool for breaking down anxiety for the last four years. When I feel anxious or start worrying about problems I could potentially have in the future, I take a deep breath, drop my shoulders, and remind myself—whatever happens, happens.

Without this, I never would have made it through my first job. I was constantly doing things I’d never done. I had the fear of failure riding my shoulder like a devil, and this phrase was the angel on the other side.

Mediators, mostly

One of my favorite things about these characters is their passive coolness. The way they stand, talk, and solve problems all add to this persona of effortless cool. They use this to their advantage and avoid conflict when they can. Sure, fighting makes for a good show, but most of the time, talking is the easiest way around a problem.

These characters are always level-headed and aware of what’s said around them, stopping conflict before it can begin. It’s not easy to stop conflict with words, but these characters give it their best try anyway. In some way, each of them is a mediator, something I’ve strived to become in my own life. 

Through watching characters like this, and my own experiences, I’ve found a peaceful resolution is always the best outcome. In recent years, I have often played the mediator for my friends. It could be an argument over something as little as what color a tennis ball is, but they’d find a way to make it a big deal. To keep my small group on good terms, I cut off arguments before the insults start flying.

Insurmountable to mountable

In their respective worlds, characters like this tend to face seemingly insurmountable odds on a daily basis. You’d think with what I’ve told you so far, they’d do their best to avoid situations like that, but it rarely works out that way. Of course, being the hero, they can’t just back down. Rather, they break down their problems, looking to their comrades for inspiration.

Shikamaru was a field strategist. During his first real battle, he was pushed to the edge of defeat. He’d nearly given up. Battered and bruised, the friends he’d led into battle picked him up and reassured him; he was doing everything he could, and if anyone was going to turn the loss around, it would be him.

I took this lesson and turned it into a mindset for myself. I can conquer my own self-doubt and come up with solutions. It compliments “whatever happens, happens” perfectly. Combined, these two got me through presentations in high school. I hated public speaking, but I built myself an ego shield, saying, “I can do this easily. It’s not life or death.”

It’s true that in comparison to fictional battles to the death, normal-people problems may seem small, but I disagree. You’re the hero of your own story, so whatever you’re facing today, no matter how small, is your battle. Break down your problem into manageable pieces, and if need be, ask friends, colleagues, or family for support. 

Life learning

Four men walk into a bar. A bounty hunter, an archer, a genius, and me. As another day passes, we all share a thought: I wish I were a cloud.

Maybe life would be better if we were all clouds. Going wherever the breeze takes us. But we’re not. Instead, we learn. We learn how to make life better for ourselves, from the memories that we make to the media we consume. 

With the help of these characters, I learned to manage anxiety, talk through conflict, and make insurmountable problems seem small.