Great article, and great approach to resetting. The article also got me thinking beyond the sports example. I wonder about the difference between the reset approach from mistakes related to falling short in one's performance during a task/sport, and mistakes that bring unsurmountable consequences to one's identity or reputation from a snap decision or miscalculation in judgment. Like Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during the Oscars. I wonder: What does a Will Smith reset look like?
That’s a really interesting take, thank you. You’re right, the Will Smith example sits in a very different category, where the consequences extend far beyond performance and into moral and social identity. The same basic principles of reflection and emotional regulation still apply, but the reset in that context becomes more about accountability, learning, and long-term self-repair rather than immediate performance recovery.
I wish more people understood the importance of emotional regulation. In US society, emotional regulation and mental wellness seem to be at an all-time low. Any expectation of self-control is seen as oppressive. And emotional regulation is often seen as a sign of complicity to some presumed moral wrong. The Karen phenomenon. Hostility and violence toward people from multicultural backgrounds. The so-called Trump Derrangement Syndrome. The glee about the demise of people with opposing views by people from all sides: the commander-in-chief and political leaders from both sides, news media, influencers, and entertainment celebrities. The (proud!) public displays of emotional non-regulation documented through millions of videos posted online is alarming. In my opinion, it has created a mental health crisis that makes too many people go through life feeling unwell and being ill-equipped to cope with reality in a sensible way.
Cheers for the kind words, much appreciated. Sounds like you already have a great handle on the process, recognising when to release the emotional state is such an important step.
Great article, and great approach to resetting. The article also got me thinking beyond the sports example. I wonder about the difference between the reset approach from mistakes related to falling short in one's performance during a task/sport, and mistakes that bring unsurmountable consequences to one's identity or reputation from a snap decision or miscalculation in judgment. Like Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during the Oscars. I wonder: What does a Will Smith reset look like?
That’s a really interesting take, thank you. You’re right, the Will Smith example sits in a very different category, where the consequences extend far beyond performance and into moral and social identity. The same basic principles of reflection and emotional regulation still apply, but the reset in that context becomes more about accountability, learning, and long-term self-repair rather than immediate performance recovery.
I wish more people understood the importance of emotional regulation. In US society, emotional regulation and mental wellness seem to be at an all-time low. Any expectation of self-control is seen as oppressive. And emotional regulation is often seen as a sign of complicity to some presumed moral wrong. The Karen phenomenon. Hostility and violence toward people from multicultural backgrounds. The so-called Trump Derrangement Syndrome. The glee about the demise of people with opposing views by people from all sides: the commander-in-chief and political leaders from both sides, news media, influencers, and entertainment celebrities. The (proud!) public displays of emotional non-regulation documented through millions of videos posted online is alarming. In my opinion, it has created a mental health crisis that makes too many people go through life feeling unwell and being ill-equipped to cope with reality in a sensible way.
I can be a bit like your friend Chris.
I like your 3Rs summary. Once I have moved into releasing the emotional state and becoming more rational, it becomes much easier to reset.
Thank you David for another great article.
Cheers for the kind words, much appreciated. Sounds like you already have a great handle on the process, recognising when to release the emotional state is such an important step.