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Fighting Words
(part five)
How do you drop your gun?
If
you haven't yet reached the stage where you're sick and
tired of fighting or hiding, believe me, you will
eventually. There's no point in waiting for that kind of
bitter end. So why put yourself through it? If your
anger, whether overt or covert, highbrow or lowbrow, has
already caused some wear and tear on your system, then
let the healing process begin with APEX.
A: I ACKNOWLEDGE that my conflict need not be
permanent.
P: My POSITIVE attitude prevents my anger from
aggravating the conflict that I want to solve.
E: ENTHUSIASM for a final solution keeps me
receptive to the thoughts and feelings of the other
person.
X: I eX-PEL my need to fight or take flight by
being a peacemaker.
The
APEX self-talk statements will build up your internal
reserves of goodwill, thus making it easier to drop your
gun. The tradition of self-talk has spread far and wide
because it really works. Simply copy the APEX statements
onto a piece of paper and keep them in your wallet. Read
them over as often as you can, especially when you're in
a traffic tie-up or store line-up.
The
word APEX signifies the highest level attainable in any
human task. Lengthy, on-going disputes could cost you a
great deal: a satisfactory custody or divorce agreement,
for instance. So strive for your APEX -- your personal
best. Put the power and the glory back into your words.
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