Decisions leak your standards when you rely on energy or moods. The Three‑Word Standard is a morning compression: pick three concrete words (one role, one behavior, one boundary) that together form a portable decision filter you can test all day. James explains the cognitive advantage of compression—three words are easy to recall under stress—walks through selection rules (specific, observable, reversible), and offers nine ready word‑triples for work, fatherhood, recovery, and leadership. You’ll get a 90‑second ritual to choose and lock the words (say them aloud, set a physical touchpoint), three quick examples of how the filter stops negotiation in real moments, and a three‑day micro‑trial to measure whether the words reduced reactive choices and increased calm. Practical, low‑ego, and immediately usable at first light: compress your standards so your day answers them without debate. If this matters to you, subscribe — and try one Three‑Word Standard tomorrow.