Develop a Mindset to Manage Fear
Author: Gene Page
A mindset is different than a skill set. You don’t need to change your lifestyle or spend 4 hours in a gym daily to accomplish it. We can achieve great things by simply adjusting our mindset. What is a mindset, you ask? The Merriam-Webster definition of mindset is a “Mental attitude or inclination.” * This is great news because our attitude is something we have control over. Our ability to control our environment is limited, but we can overcome unwanted surprises if we are mentally prepared. To do this, we must refresh our way of thinking and processing this dangerous world that surrounds us. Fear can cripple us and even cause us to freeze up because we are not prepared. Even though some of us fear such things as public speaking or spiders, we are going to focus on managing the fear that accompanies the threat of injury or even death.
Let’s look at some quotes regarding overcoming fear. “Failure is not an option”-Gene Kranz, or one of my favorites, “Everything you want is on the other side of fear”-Jack Canfield. These quotes help us understand the finality and seriousness of dealing with fear. Suppose we are presented with a fearful incident, such as being physically attacked; having the right mindset before the incident can bring us a successful outcome. The time to prepare is now.
Do you remember daydreaming as a child? Back then, we could visually transform ourselves into other worlds, like being a superhero saving the day. This visualization can be very colorful and very detailed. Visualization is powerful. Take a moment now and visualize yourself on that dream vacation you have always wanted to experience. Can you see yourself in that setting? Can you feel the moment as you take in the sights, sounds, and smells? Now imagine yourself alone in a dark parking garage. A tall, hooded stranger is walking directly to you. As he closes in, you see a shining knife in his right hand; how did you respond? I bet most of you finished the scenario before you read this sentence. You saw yourself take some type of action. There are no right or wrong responses as long as you take action. Some may have made their way to an exit, locked themselves in their car, yelled for help, or simply knocked the thug out cold with your fist. This is visualization.
Visualization must always provide you with an outcome that is favorable to you. See yourself winning. See yourself winning in detail. See yourself winning at every step. There is no failure. Failure will mean serious bodily harm or death. There is no failure. You WILL win.
Always and in every situation, YOU WILL WIN! Athletes do this before a big game or competition. They visualize themselves making the touchdown or crossing the finish line. To win, you must first believe that you can.
As a law enforcement officer, I used visualization daily and sometimes on the fly. For example, if I received a call from an armed person, I would immediately begin my visualization as I drove to the scene. I would visualize, in great detail, my answers to each question.
What is the quickest route to the location? What angle will I approach him? What will I do if he starts shooting as soon as I arrive? With every thought, I visualized myself winning the confrontation. When I arrived at the scene, I had a plan and acted on it immediately. I also do this with my family at a restaurant or a movie theater. I first ask myself questions such as where are the exits in case of a fire? What will I do if someone walks in with a gun? Then, I visualize, in detail, myself taking those actions. Once I have grasped a visual, which shouldn’t take more than a minute, I refocus on my family and enjoy our outing. I now have the mindset to manage fear.
Our first step is to conduct your visualizations of potential or probable incidents. Do this daily until it becomes easier, and you feel more empowered. Take a moment as you get ready for work in the morning. Think about the risks that could happen where you live, your daily drive to work, or where your children attend school. Think locally or regionally. For instance, if you live in the Midwest, I wouldn’t be too concerned with how to deal with a tsunami. Do you live or work in a high crime area or a zone prone to flooding? These incidents or emergencies cause fear and can occur with little warning.
Having the right mindset ahead of time will put YOU ahead of most people because YOU have a plan. It will drastically reduce the chances of you and your family being hurt.
To recap, if you’re thrust into a dangerous situation, acknowledge and process the fear quickly. Remember, “failure is not an option.” The second step is to take physical action. Do something! Anything! Don’t wait for someone to come and bail you out. Some physical responses are better than others, but taking no action is the worst. Remember to practice your visualization before an incident; this will speed up your response and increase your success. What we have shared is easy and costs nothing. It can be done at any time and in any location. Having the mindset to manage fear is something you can start right now. Your life and well-being are worth more than anything tangible on this earth. Your family deserves the best, and YOU deserve to win every challenge. Be safe and remember to practice often!