Keeping Calm in the Storm

There are events in our lives that can quickly become chaotic and even catastrophic if we do not put our emotions and actions into check. As an example, imagine if firefighters arrived at a major apartment fire and instead of putting out the fire, began running around with their hands in the air in panic and fear? Okay, that would probably never happen but you get a sense of how people must put their emotions and actions into check before addressing a potentially dangerous (or difficult) situation.

When firefighters are enroot to a major fire, they are gathering information about the scene: how many residents are in the building, how many floors, schematics, surrounding buildings or other structures, how large the fire is and if its isolated to one or two floors, how many firefighters and/or paramedics they will need. Before they ever address an emergency, they get prepared with knowledge and insight as to what they are actually going to be battling. They know how many trucks they will need to put out the blaze. They know how many people may possibly be inside the inferno. They know where all the escape ladders are. They know and account for all the firemen and women who are going to be going inside the burning building so every person is accounted for. By taking into consideration just a portion of what first responders do in a crisis situation, you will begin to see the value in practicing the same principles so that you too are prepared for a calamity or challenging moment.

I’m not a firefighter – that’s not going to work in my life, you say? Yes, it will. When you keep a level head in the face of danger, difficulty, fear, anger or sorrow, you find that you can more easily wade through the passion and emotions racing through your mind. You do this by taking a step backward and first learning what you know about the situation. Rushing to judgment or screaming your head off will not resolve a problem. Stay calm, analyze and then only proceed to react with wisdom and understand. When you react in a steady, calculated manner, armed with necessary information to access the situation, you are better equipped to deal with it. That is how you use similar values of firefighters and other first responders. You must always learn the background to the circumstances. What influences (surroundings) may have contributed or may harm the situation further? What tools or resources do you need to properly attend to the matter? How can you help the situation rather than hinder or worsen it?

I understand that emotions can run high. These powerful feelings can be both a blessing and a curse in personal and professional relationships. It is learning when to place your emotions aside just long enough to access stressful situations before rushing in headfirst. This will permit you to overcome difficult trials in life. I know it is easier said than done, and that is why it is so critical to practice daily meditations or breathing exercises to keep you in a state of calm. It is through these mental and physical training rituals that you will be better prepared to strengthen your convictions and your ability to remain cool as a cucumber even when you feel like you want to explode. By remaining calm, you are simultaneously in a state of heightened awareness; so not only does your heart thank you for not putting on the extra stress, but it will also feel better about doing the right thing at the right time.