Being able to control your emotions is possibly one of your greatest assets. What was the latest episode in your life that took massive restraint, and how did you handle this stressful situation? Did you react or respond? If you reacted, things probably did not end well.
When you are dealing with any potential adversary, you will have the opportunity to make rational decisions that will have positive repercussions. However, you will also have the opportunity to react out of emotion, and I can almost always guarantee you that this will result in regret.
This self-control allows you to respond rather than react. When you react, you are allowing the outside circumstances to control you. When you choose to respond, it demonstrates that you are in control of yourself.
I have a 10-second rule prior to answering in any confrontational situation, and it have served me well. I would like to encourage you to wait 24 hours before replying to any email that is controversial. I also want you to read the email response you have written to yourself aloud, twice, prior to sending. If you practice these two suggestions, I can assure you that "recanting" will all but disappear.
Several years ago I was involved in a real estate transaction where I nearly blew the deal, all over an emotional decision. It seemed very apparent to me that the buyer should have evaluated my property the same way I had, with blood, sweat and tears. Well, that's not the way it went down. During the negotiations, I was taking very personal all the valuations. I was allowing my personal emotions to get in the way of factual data.
Finally, the deal closed because I chose to respond rather than react. Since that near fatal atrocity, I have been involved in numerous business and personal transactions. I have discovered that one of my greatest strengths is controlling my emotions.
I want to encourage you to consider the facts and not allow yourself to get bogged down with the emotional side of the transaction. How are you doing with controlling yours?
Live on purpose,
Aaron
