The Caution Mode

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The Caution Mode

BY PHILLIP WITTMEYER

There are many people with this Goal, perhaps more than any other Goal. People in this Mode are careful and circumspect in what they do. They rarely takes risks, and generally bet only on the "sure thing". They don't take chances, or jump into things with rash decisions. They want to make certain of things before doing anything about it. They have to be sure of the situation, because they are unsure of themselves.

People in this Mode analyze their behavior in the sense that they are very precise in what they do. They break down their actions into a series of steps. They make sure their step is accurately placed before they put their foot down. Then they look carefully where they will place their next foot, and so on as they travel down the path of life. They do not want to make a misstep.

This pattern of behavior shows up in the way people in the Caution Mode drive an automobile. They maintain constant attention on the road and other automobiles because they see driving as a dangerous situation — any lapse could spell disaster. They are not smooth or graceful in the way they drive. They continually corrects their speed, accelerating and decelerating to maintain just the right distance from the car ahead. They makes an excessive number of course corrections on the way down the road, steering right and left to stay in the safe center of the lane — destruction lurks on either side. They are overly careful at intersections: there must be a huge gap in traffic before they crosses, allowing a wide margin of safety. In merging lanes where others would accelerate to match the flow of traffic, they stop and waits for a break in the traffic. People in Caution conduct the other affairs of their lives in just this fashion.

In the Positive Pole of +Deliberation, these people are very deliberate in their actions. They are hesitant when they come to an unfamiliar situation. Then they are careful as they proceed through the situation. They do not act decisively or boldly, but think their way through each step of the action. This Pole is characteristic of a very precise and accurate mode of behavior. Such people are meticulous, detailed, and exacting in their work and in their lives. They go slowly, step by step, to make certain of what they are doing. They are methodical in the way they go about things. They measures each action to its correct proportion. In their best expression, people in +Deliberation almost never make a mistake because they are so circumspect and prudent. The worst error they might make is to miss an opportunity by hesitating too long, as they estimate the odds of success.

The Negative Pole is -Phobia. "Phobia" is the Greek word for fear, and this word has been brought into the English language to refer to a class of psychological disorders characterized by inordinate specific dreads, such as acrophobia (fear of heights) and claustrophobia (fear of enclosed places). It is likely that people who have these phobias are showing an extreme form of this Pole. In normal people, this Pole will show up as timidity, anxiety, and insecurity. They are wary and watchful of their situation because they regard it as full of dangers. They need to find assurances that things are safe before proceeding. Such people approach life with trepidation. They perceive the world as unsafe, as threatening, and hostile. They worry about all the dangers around them, some real, but most imaginary. This makes them indecisive. They are apprehensive about facing unfamiliar situations, especially in which there might be any risk. They often back out of situations where they get "cold feet". As children they are "scaredy cats" — other kids try to make them take a dare, but they rarely do. As adults they are "worry warts" — they are anxious about everything. They are easily startled or frightened — an unexpected loud noise will make them jump, make their heart pound, and fill them will a sense of panic or terror. They are overly security-conscious, so much of what they do is designed to assure their safety. Bold, arrogant individuals may regard them as cowards with a "yellow streak down their backs". They way to overcome -Phobia is to consider and apply the Positive Pole of the Power Mode, which is +Authority. Be bold, decisive, and courageous in behavior, and the situation will often yield.

The Caution Mode is the Complement of the Power Mode. People in Caution does not impose their ideas on others, as a Power Mode person often does. They are not oppressive or manipulative, and they rarely represents themselves as authorities. They lack the self-confidence and sense of certainty that people in the Power Mode possesses. They are not at all foolhardy, nor are they risk-takers.

The Caution Mode is the Counterpart of the Discrimination (Rejection) Goal. The Caution Mode has what the Discrimination Goal seeks. Both involve being critical, but the difference between the two is that in Rejection the criticism is expressed toward the not-self, whereas in Caution the criticism is expressed within the self as carefulness.

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Phil Wittmeyer is a longtime Michael student and scholar of the teachings. He can be reached at: wittmeyer@hotmail.com