Remember What Your Trained For
Be meticulously prepared
John Glenn a former astronaut was so meticulously prepared for stressful situations and what the process was for his mission in space. He spent over a day orbiting the earth and his heart rate never went over 100 beats per minute.
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said,
“It’s not like astronauts are braver than other people, we’re just, you know, meticulously prepared.”
Many professions today face stressful and difficult situations. The training is what these men and women fall back on to get them where they need to be. Astronauts encounter all kinds of difficult, high stakes, high pressure situations in space. Where there is no room for error or chance. For instance, Chris Hadfield on his first spacewalk went blind from his left eye. Then his other went blind. In total darkness, he had to navigate his way back if he wanted to survive. Hadfield would later say that the key is to remind oneself that,
“there are six things that I could do right now, all of which will help make things better. And it’s worth remembering, too, there’s no problem so bad that you can’t make it worse also.”
Astronauts, being so prepared, they complete the mission blind. They go through an intense amount of stress and pressure and their minds and bodies remain unchanged. Professional athletes spent most of their career training, practicing and preparing for the game that we get to see. Surgeons spend some 4,000 hours practicing. Performers and entertainers, actors and actresses spend countless hours rehearsing. A keynote speaker or presenter has spent time reviewing their notes and speech.
Training, be it on the job, or well in advance is useful. It prepares you for what is to come and for the unexpected.
This is why the work matters. Meanwhile, you get cut off in traffic or the customer service department you’ve been on the phone with won’t help you and your heart wants to jump of of your chest. John Glenn is meticulously prepared. Chris Hadfield is meticulously prepared. You however, are not. Any little thing gets to you.
Stop that. Prepare. Show up. And repeat.
As the expression goes, the unexpected blow lands heaviest. This is why we prepare.
Thought Provoking Questions : What are you meticulously preparing for? If you don’t have an answer, than what do you want to prepare for and why? How can you better prepare and train yourself to handle the unexpected?
Dan Roman is a writer that releases a daily meditation. A quick read. Sharing wisdom and asking thought-provoking questions. Influenced by the obstacles, success and failures in life and of others. Using history, books, current events, philosophy, and ancient wisdom. These writings are actionable, thought-provoking, designed to make your life better.
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