While the Boy Scouts have this motto, few actually know what it means to be prepared for something. It isn’t just about the logistics, though it does help. Making sure that you have all your gear ready to go can make all the difference when there is a last minute thing that needs to get done.
However, being prepared also means to be ready mentally. Something to think about is the following: You don’t control anything but you. Full stop. While we may think we have some semblance of control over our lives, what happens to us is an equation of universal forces and the efforts of others around us. Before we go into panic mode, really ponder what this means. No one usually chooses to be cut off in traffic, fired from work or mugged in the street, but it does happen. Now, you could get angry at any one of those things, or you could understand that it is not your fault and that you now have the choice to do something about it. Therein lies your power.
When preparing yourself for an encounter like the examples above, you have to consider that you will feel a range of emotions. Being able to anticipate them and ultimately move past them to do what needs to be done is where the being prepared starts. Anticipate that bad things can happen, accept that it wasn’t our own fault, feel the feelings, then do what needs to be done. Allow your brain to do its job.
While we can’t really train you to be resilient in traffic, only experience can do that, cultivating a strong mind will help you get through it. We also can not teach you how to deal with being fired, other than understanding that unless you chose to do something you knew would get you fired, it was not your fault and now you have an opportunity to do something different. We can teach you how to deal with the initial rush of fear and anxiety when someone tries to take your things. All it takes is knowing what to do when that occurs. Most of our hesitation in any situation comes from not having the response already ingrained in our head. No training can prepare you for every circumstance, but in general, once you know what to do and have practiced it multiple times, your confidence in these situations will increase and you will be better prepared to deal with them, should they happen.
Until next time, remember, you own your actions and being prepared is more of a mindset than any physical thing.
Train Hard,
Head Instructor Shawn Morris