Who Else Wants To Stay Calm?

Many things piss me off.

I’ve lost my temper.

I’ve learned the hard way.

Just like patience is a virtue, so is staying calm.

In the words of Epictetus:

Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions.”

Staying calm is a signal of control. Control of self.

Here’s how to stay calm…

You can’t create slack with tension.

Being calm means you have control over your mind. Emotions won’t lead you to bad decisions.

Excellent decision making, in any situation, is critical to a positive outcome.

I had a client who owed my company several hundred thousand dollars.

My first instinct could have been to get on the phone. To yell. To scream. To threaten international arbitration and legal pursuit.

But holy shit that’s not fun.

Nor is losing money.

My gut was telling me to take the high road.

We spoke to the client and gave them several options. We knew they were having financial trouble.