Learning to do what works is to learn to have a practical mindset, but it is also to learn to be you. Learning to be you is one of the most difficult challenges in life. It is particularly difficult if to be you is to follow values that would normally be considered rational…in saner times that is. This difficulty has been a challenge of living in the modern era for some time. But, it has become even more poignant in these times where it has become commonplace to claim mutually exclusive things as a standard operating procedure and as a basis for policy. In life there are so many pushes, pulls, yanks, and shoves, in so many different directions simultaneously. It is surprising that anything gets done or anyone knows his location at any given point in time. Since most people are trained to put an enormous amount of attention, respect, time, and value into the opinions of others, and those “others,” are usually the one placing contradictory demands on the individual, mental instability is all but guaranteed. Many people are trained from a very young age to live in a state of imbalance, instability, and uncertainty. Fear becomes their basis for living and evaluating their reality. This state of mind is intensified now that there is a global health fear made worse by the extreme reactions to that health challenge. Few people provide any practical insight or instruction on how to navigate through all of this let alone to make sense of it. Confusion is nonsensical by its very definition. Confusion is a form of imbalance and instability. Confusion is not a desirable state of mind, but it is a common state of mind. Confusion is a common circumstance in many social situations. The focus of the Shinsei Method™ is to create a more balanced state of mind, but that is not always easy to do with all of the contradictory and countervailing forces often aligned against it at work, at home, and in the world. However, a balanced state of mind that strives toward inner-calm as a goal , is crucial for establishing a practical state of mind. A practical state of mind requires full focus in order to find workable solutions to the ongoing difficulties that everyone faces during times of crisis, and just in the course of everyday life. If your insides are rattled or you doubt the values you hold, or like many people you do not know what values you hold, it is not possible to find the most suitable resolutions to the problems you face. You may find a solution, but it is not likely to be suitable. The only indication you may have that some solution is inappropriate is some level of inner-frustration or unease. Again, if you are not familiar with your policies, practices, and procedures (i.e. your inner you) you may never even realize that you have a lot of unnecessary problems in your life. Just think of the number of people addicted to alcohol, drugs, or sex in the world that think that everything is just fine. If you have ever lived in an apartment you have probably seen many of these people. They have extremely irregular lives. They may be single parents who show absolutely no recognition of the importance of child rearing or how undesirable it is to be a single parent if it can be avoided. They may live to party without any clear line of productive work. They may even be able to pay the bills with government assistance and never think there is a problem, or that there are more constructive alternatives to living. To make matters worse, their style, tends to be socially supported. This sends a message that can be extremely demoralizing for those who strive toward constructive values, who sacrifice for the sake of their children, or for better health, improved finances, and in general to be a more productive member of society. These are times when the most productive members of society are punished severely for their productivity, while the less productive are encouraged to follow their impulse. This can encourage productive people to start to doubt the relevance of their constructive values and style of living. They may even begin doubt themselves as I once did, which can lead to a loss of hope in the life that they only have once to live. There are many pressures and distractions not to find practical solutions, to be overly emotional, and to accept poor performance in life, in work, and in relationships. Learning to establish a practical mindset then requires, the recognition of the importance of the value of practicality. Second, the practical mindset requires a plan to have a daily process of problem solving, which also means to esteem the value of problem solving–this really means valuing solutions and the joy of figuring things out. Third, it requires a certain amount of self-trust that all of these values are valid and valuable. Learning to do what works is a mindset. Starting the process of learning to do what works is also a mindset. Perhaps, it is the most difficult mindset of all to develop.