Where is the power in all these attitude choices? How can they make a difference right in this moment? Let’s say someone cuts me off in traffic. How can I hold onto my peace of mind, rather than letting that driver control my level of well-being? Am I supposed to remember the 45 possibilities among the 22 choices and magically pick 3 or 4 that allow me to stay calm? Let’s see … which ones would I choose? How about Source Internal, You and Me, and Not Important? Yes, they’ll do fine. But how do I access them at 100 kph on the freeway? I could open my laptop with one hand, turn it on, go to “Posts” on my WordPress page, locate “Mastery of the Moment – Part Two”, and scroll down to find the choices that seem to fit the moment. But maybe I’d better keep my eyes on the road!
For that presentation in 1988, I laminated 1″ x 2″ yellow cards listing the attitude choices. Do I whip one of those out of my shirt pocket? Do I start the week thinking about only three of them, such as the ones up above? And then bring those ones to mind as I hurtle down the highway? I could start with three new ones every Monday.
Maybe I should use all of the choices only in retrospect. If I have an A > B moment (see Part Two), I could analyze it later to see how I might have handled the situation differently. Perhaps enough analysis would automatically bring A > B > C to consciousness in the future, as my neighbour’s right rear bumper slips by Hugo’s front left.
To tell you the truth, I don’t know what to do. The ideas are powerful. The trick is to harness them, like a cowboy calming a bucking bronco. I’ll figure it out. I’m just glad to be along for the ride.