A Week of Practice

Ideas change a person when they are practiced. A week is long enough to notice a difference and short enough to try. Choose one habit from the course: the evening review, stating the other side fairly, naming your state before deciding, or finding the study behind a headline.

Make it small and specific. “Be more rational” is too big. “Before replying to any email that annoys me, I will wait ten minutes and name the state I am in” can be done and checked.

Each night, write a line: did I do it, what happened, what would I change? On the seventh day, reread the lines. You will see whether the habit helps, and whether to keep it, adjust it or swap it for another.

The seven-day test

Ben picks the habit of stating the other side before arguing. On Monday he forgets. On Tuesday he tries it at lunch with a colleague who disagrees about the office layout.

By Friday he has used it four times and notes that two arguments ended early. On Sunday he rereads his lines and decides to keep the habit and add a second: asking what would change his mind.

Try this today Start today: choose one habit, set a daily reminder and write one line each night. The seventh evening falls on the summit.