STAYING CALM IN THE STORM

Staying Calm in the Storm

I think a storm is an accurate explanation of what many of us are facing in this season. Feeling pushed around by winds of life, out of control while the waves of our circumstances come crashing in, blinded by the unknown, and flooded by fear.

In these seasons we can’t help but consume ourselves with the question “When will this pass?”, “How long will this last?” and “When will this storm be over?”

When the storm of stress hits, ride it out and continue throughout the week. Stress is a normal part of all of our lives. However, we can become experts in managing it.

Stress can affect us at any level. It causes our bodies to go into a “fight or flight” mode, which is designed to protect us only in dangerous situations.

Here are tips for smooth sailing:

1. Maintain Your Routine:

When things get hectic and exciting, people tend to abandon what they’re doing so they can try to put out fires. Certainly, problem issues need to be addressed, but if you totally abandon your regular responsibilities, you’ll create new problems and more chaos.

2. Take a Break

A craze of activity can act like a magnet pulling more people into the mix and raising the level of chaos. Don’t become a bigger part of the problem by jumping into the fray. Excuse yourself for a bit so you can step outside and regain your objectivity. Even if you stay at your desk, take a mental break with a short distraction. This will let you think through solutions for settling things down. Then you can address your colleagues or employees calmly.

3. Slow Down and Breathe

There is a saying among race car drivers: slow in the cockpit equals fast on the track. When you’re going too quickly, carelessness is bound to occur, making an already chaotic situation much worse.

4.  Identify and Manage Your Stress Points

If all the people on the team have reached the breaking point, then the whole place is sure to blow. You can’t take care of everyone else, but you can surely manage your own stress. Practice self-awareness. Know what pushes your buttons and prepare for the inevitable by monitoring your stress level. Disengage before you get past the point of no return. Be open with others about what drives up your blood pressure so they can avoid a blow-up and help keep things happy.

5.  Smile

Attitude is half the battle in a chaotic situation. High-stress teams dealing in trauma and emergencies can maintain not only their cool but also their humanity. They don’t dismiss the seriousness of the situation; they simply relax and smile in a comforting (not fake) manner. With a simple honest smile, you can put yourself and others at ease and let everyone focus on the work rather than the emotion.

Don’t search for anything except peace. Try to calm the mind. Everything else will come on its own.