Decision Time

At this point, your self-coach has assimilated important information for you. He understands your M.O. and your triggers. He knows your impact on others and has checked in with your voices to see what’s going on. He has checked all of this data against potential confirmation bias and suggestion. Now, it is decision time. In the moment—and frankly that will always be the tricky part—your self-coach will have to make the call. If you continue on your present path at this particular meeting or encounter, are you at risk for being hijacked? Could you become angry and say something that you may later regret? Are you on the verge of cutting sarcasm? Could you become fearful and lack the courage to speak the truth? Are you going along with a plan that you know won’t work just to please others? Any of these emotions could result in hijacking. If so, the red flag should be waving and the whistle blowing. From this point, your self-coach needs some techniques that will change the emotional reaction and the outcome to more closely align with your intentions.