Book Description

Who are the idiots? This is one of the few questions in the world that most people agree on its answer: The others... (of course!). Managers, colleagues, teachers, spouses, mothers-in-law -- anyone who doesn’t behave ‘properly,’ that is, the way... we would like them to! Join the Boneheads’ Academy. Congratulations! You’ve just won free life time membership to the idiots’ club, as chances are that you belong to several of the above categories. Time to realize that, if we ask others, you are the idiot in their lives! Idiotic thinking. Time to also realize that, all too often, we are the ‘idiots’ for ourselves! Irrational thoughts and beliefs create problems for our own selves and for those around us. There is hope. The infallible ‘Ro’ method can help you become a professional problem solver, and deal with annoying people, situations, and your own thoughts. A day with Don Stressote. Join in the adventures of this modern-day Don Quixote de la Mancha, a ‘Ro’ method graduate. Watch Don deal effectively with other idiots (drivers, managers, colleagues, clients, friends and relatives), as well as with the most difficult person among all... - himself! A ‘normal’ life is not always a ‘happy’ life. “… grant me the courage to change the things that I can change, the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference between the two”, is a popular motto by Alcoholics Anonymous. Most of us fail in the third part, as we hopelessly try to change things that either are not amenable to change or unworthy of our time and energy. Dealing effectively with either major life events or daily stressors requires the ability to maintain composure / remain calm under pressure, take a time-out and ‘talk sense’ to oneself. Useful questions to ponder when under pressure include: -Is there something I can do right now to solve this problem? -Is it worth my time and energy? -Is my behaviour helping me deal with this and accomplish my ultimate goals? -What can happen to me, if I continue acting in a state of frenzy or remain depressed? -How long can my body endure in this state, without sustaining any undesirable health consequences? -How can I use this event? -What have I learned from it? -What good do I see in all of it? You can’t stop the birds of worry from flying over your head - but you can stop them from building their nest on your head. The book aims to inspire, as well as to educate. In the first part the author discusses stress, its sources and its effects, followed by the ‘Ro’ Method, a simple but complete problem solving process, and a number of examples and real life applications. Then, using a light, humorous and innovative style, the author describes the day of ‘Don Stressote,’ a modern Don Quichote de la Mancha and ‘Ro’ Method graduate, who attempts to apply the theory in everyday life situations. Armed with courage and stoicism, Don deals with the monsters and the dragons (the idiots) of the 21st century: his partner who entered the toilette first and is reading the newspaper insensible to the needs of others, the obese fellow in the elevator, the traffic jam, his stupid boss, the thick-skinned client, as well as the most difficult person among all – his own self and his irrational expectations… Don’s positive state of mind, and his determination and focus on his pledge “I won’t let any idiot ruin my day, ‘cause this is my day!” together with a careful plan of action on how to deal with little annoyances and seemingly unsurpassable obstacles, is what distinguishes our hero from the average/normal citizen. A number of applied psychological techniques, combined with examples and exercises assist the reader to make positive changes towards a) either solving problems or b) altering the way s/he sees the situations.