Try This! Say "Session Is In"

A few weeks ago, after waiting 52 minutes at a restaurant in Black Mountain, NC we abandoned ship and walked to another one to start the waiting process all over.

The restaurant was understaffed, and a collection of people was piling up on the sidewalk.

At minute 45, the hostess came out the front door and yelled for a party who had already given up and left. She then hit herself in the head with a stack of menus. “I hate my job! This is the worst job ever!” she shouted into the cool mountain air.

How do you weather moments like that? The never-ending restaurant wait, the delayed flight, the DMV?

Often, you can’t say, “They’re doing their best,” because they’re not. They’re doing their medium-est, as people who are underled and underpaid are often understandably prone to be.

How did I keep my Joe Cool last night? (Snoopy reference? Super current!)

Scott Allen, a professor from SMU who I did a few Lexus events with taught me a trick.

All I do is imagine I’ve just been invited to an impromptu lesson in Emotional Intelligence. I’ve just been given a golden opportunity to recognize, understand, and manage my emotions.

I take a deep breath and say the soundtrack, “Session is in.”

It’s one thing to read about empathy, kindness, or patience. It’s another thing to practice it when your pilot just timed out in DFW, and you’ve got an airport La Quinta in your near future.

That’s what I did that night. I made it even easier on myself by texting Scott and thanking him for the technique. After a fruitless hour of waiting, we walked to the nearby Thai Basil restaurant and ended up having a wonderful meal.

Crisis averted.

“Session is in” is a powerful soundtrack.

Say it the next time you’re tempted to lose your cool.

Jon

My new book releases on November 3!

In The 3-Minute Mindset, you'll find 90 days of better soundtracks to change your thoughts and ultimately your life. With a follow-up question and an action tied to each soundtrack, it takes just three minutes to read each entry. It's the perfect way to beat your broken soundtracks and make better ones stick around!

​​​​​

#178 2020 Fieldstone Pkwy. Suite 900, Franklin, TN 37069
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

This email may contain affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission. I only share things I actually use, love, or think will help you be more remarkable.