Readings

Hot Buttons

A hot button moment is when you meet your inner monster close up. Your hot button has been pushed and you have got yourself worked up over some incident which at first seemed trivial but has triggered a raw emotional response. Stop! Ask yourself, 'will this matter in five years time?' If not park it up and leave it behind.

Here are some other useful questions to practise and eventually learn for your hot button moments:

What would (someone you revere) think of my response?
What would I think of my response if I were myself at 8 years of age?
Will I still be carrying this tonight as I go to sleep?
What do I look like at this moment?
How would I want this moment described in my obituary?
If I listened to what I am saying as a radio script would I laugh, cry or be impressed?
What's the shelf life of this discussion?
If I was dressed as a clown with a white face and large red shoes would my words carry weight?
How would I explain this reaction to a colleague? To my partner? To my grandmother?
For those of you who are teachers you will be testing Hot Button theory in the coming months. We wish you luck!