Enabler or Disabler? How calm are you under pressure?

When we detect a Red Zone trigger – usually unfairness, confusion, reduced choice or a threat to our safety (physical, social, emotional), the more primitive but exceedingly more efficient parts of our brain come into play. This efficiency means that being in the Red Zone is a relatively easy thing to do. Worse, the intrusion of the Red Zone competes with brain resources that might normally be used to, solve complex problems, pay attention and focus, and even manage emotional stages themselves. Ironically, the more we engage the Red Zone, the less we can manage the Red Zone, resulting in the downward spiral that we often see end in arguments, road rage and even violence. Not such an emotionally intelligent state.

Conversely, being in the Blue Zone takes some effort, but the rewards are worth it. We innately admire folk who can stay calm under pressure, against the odds and against circumstances. We often label such people as being emotionally intelligent. Indeed, staying cool under pressure keeps vital resources essential for the solution (or resolution) available to part of your brain that needs it most. As a bonus, your Blue Zone, your calm zone perhaps, also enables the same state to be replicated in those around you.

Staying calm is simple, but not easy. You can enhance your chances of managing down any Red Zone intrusion before, during and after any event or trigger.

Before: good sleep, good nutrition, fitness and good oxygenation all help the brain be at its best. Think of how you respond to triggers or crises when you are tired, hungry and run down… By the way, three deep breaths is more than just slowing your response down, it increases the oxygenation to the brain, resulting in better Blue Zone activation.

During: reframing, acceptance, distance, observation and labelling are all methods used by those who remain most calm. A worksheet on using and practicing these methods will shortly be in the resources section of this website.

After: reflection, observation, acknowledgement and a solutions focus all help the calm person move forward, even when they lapsed into a moment of not-so-calm.

Calm is a state that enables as much the opposite state disables.