“In a hole? Don’t grab a shovel.” Just don’t make it worse.

Ever been there?
You fire off an angry email and instantly regret it.
You interrupt feedback to defend yourself.
You snap at your partner over something that had nothing to do with them.

Think:
– You weren’t solving.
– You were protecting your ego.

We do this all the time.
– Because silence feels like weakness.
– Action feels like strength.
– Even when it makes everything worse.

The uncomfortable truth?
Good outcomes from emotional reactions? Maybe 5 percent.
Bad outcomes? Almost guaranteed.

And the damage?
– Work: Trust erodes. You look unstable.
– Mind: You spiral. No clarity. Just loops.
– Relationships: You hurt the wrong people.
– Body: Cortisol spikes. Sleepless nights. Burnout follows.

Just don’t make it worse.
That alone is a win.
But if you must do something…
Make it this.

The 24-Hour Reset Rule

Step 1: Set a 24-hour timer.
Say nothing. Decide nothing.

Step 2: Do donkey work.
Clean. Sort. Walk. Fold laundry. Dig dirt.

It gives your mind a treadmill while your emotions cool down.
Boring work resets your system.
It’s too mundane for ego.
It lets the adrenaline drain.

Step 3: After 24 hours, write your move.
Then act.
Silence isn’t weakness.
It’s a power move with a delayed punch.

You don’t need to react to prove you’re a leader.
You need to pause to become one.
We’ve all hit send too soon or said too much.

But every emotional storm passes.
Your leadership depends on how you ride it.

What’s your go-to “donkey work” that helps you pause and reset?