Monday Zen: In Case of Emergency, Keep Calm

“In case of emergency, keep calm.”

That’s what it says in the elevator, because it must be the first step. It is always the first step. Often, it is the only one.

When you oversleep, keep calm. When your power goes out, keep calm. When your boss calls, keep calm.

Everything feels like an emergency when we have a habit of panicking. But what are we panicking for? Is panic a requirement for our project’s success? Did it say “should panic more” in your performance review?

Panic and action share four letters. That’s why we associate the two. Actually, panic mostly keeps us in place. Calm is what resets the cycle when we receive new information, no matter how far out of left field it may come.

Breathe, accept, orient, choose, go.

And when the elevator gets stuck, you do it again.

-Nik

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About Monday Zen: Most people hate Monday. Why? In a good life, it’s a day like any other. At the very least, it shouldn’t be worse by default. That’s what Monday Zen is for: To make sure you start the week with calm, poise, and determination.

Let’s not derail our trains of thought before they leave the station. Let’s enjoy the journey.