10-10-10 Rule

The 10-10-10 rule is a quick cognitive reappraisal for moments that feel huge and terrible. Ask whether this will still matter in 10 minutes, in 10 weeks and in 10 years.

Most spikes of shame, urgency or dread fail the longer horizons. The awkward message, the imperfect draft, the hour that went sideways rarely survive 10 weeks. Naming that gap calms the nervous system enough to choose a proportionate next step.

It is not a reason to dismiss real stakes. A broken promise or a value conflict can matter on all three horizons. The point is to match the response to the actual time scale, which also loosens present bias and anticipated regret.