The recession has hit everyone hard. Small businesses are having a tough go at meeting their overhead expenses. Independent contractors are seeing their revenue streams drying up. Long time employees are losing their jobs while college students are having a hard time finding entry level employment. The overall mood surrounding career opportunities is a bleak one. So, what is the proper way to approach this situation?Ignore all the negative stuff.No, that is not said in a flippant manner designed to "blow off" the seriousness of the situation. Rather, it is an effective serious approach that is needed in order to navigate the difficult financial challenges one may be facing in a recession. A recession is a financial situation that exists due to empirical economic facts. Emotions need to be curtailed to survive in a recession. A negative, self-defeated outlook will never set the stage for overcoming adversity. This is not to say being unrealistically optimistic is advised either. No, what is needed is a realistic, detached approach to dealing with the current economic situation you may be in.Does this undermine the previously mentioned notion that you have to remain positive? No, you always need to maintain a positive outlook to navigate through a recession.