Chapter 27
Pieces of Eight
“Pieces of Eight” Owing to the cant of the vessel, the masts hung far out over the water, and from my perch on the cross-trees I had nothing below me but the surface of the bay. Hands, who was not so far up, was in consequence nearer to the ship and fell between me and the bulwarks. He rose once to the surface in a lather of foam and blood and then sank again for good. As the water settled, I could see him lying huddled together on the clean, bright sand in the shadow of the vessel’s sides. A…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Design Your Victory Reset Protocol
Think of an area where you sometimes experience success, work, parenting, relationships, or personal goals. Create a specific checklist you could use after a win to help you stay grounded and avoid Victory Blindness. What questions would you ask yourself? What safety checks would you maintain?
Consider:
- •What mistakes do you typically make when you're feeling confident?
- •Who in your life could serve as a reality check when you're riding high?
- •What warning signs do you tend to ignore when things are going well?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when success in one area made you careless in another. What did that experience teach you about managing confidence?
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