Life
can be confounding requiring a reliable coping mechanism. I have
found over the years that the Stool of Initial Recourse enhances
focus with clarity and conciseness. The stool is comprised of three
legs constructed of three brief sentences:
1. It
Is What It Is.
2. Just
Deal with It.
3. Call
for Backup.
Leg
one beckons acceptance of the situation; leg two beckons the
assumption of ownership; and leg three reminds us that we are not
alone.
Acceptance
of the situation is the key first step to arriving at realism and
objective analysis. That is, the preconceptions surrounding the
situation are taken to be less important than what is actually
there—thus traversing dangerous sloughs of fantasy and denial.
Ownership of the situation is important for it enlists personal
responsibility and initiative. Finally, the recognition that we are
not alone opens up vistas of resources and accelerates beyond the Lone
Ranger mentality—seldom the most effective or efficient way
forward.
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