Just Breathe

(Photo: johnhain/Pixabay)

We have all been there—you have a mind full of "stuff" and a decision or two or three to make. Maybe you are tired, hangry, fires are active across the area, and/or communities are threatened. Maybe it is your house that is threatened and your loved ones evacuating while you battle the fire. You are at or beyond the worst-case scenario; you have some critical decisions to make and ethical dilemmas to resolve.

How do we clear our mind of all the "stuff" in order to make our decisions?

As you read the excerpt below from a Daily Stoic blog post, think about the decision-making model with regard to the time wedge.

Again and again, the Stoics warn against the dangers of our immediate, emotional reactions to events, since these split-second judgments can so often be based on a less-than-clear view." - The Daily Stoic

In Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana explains a well-known Zen analogy and its connection to meditation:

“After sitting motionlessly, close your eyes. Our mind is analogous to a cup of muddy water. The longer you keep a cup of muddy water still, the more the mud settles down and the water will be seen clearly. Similarly, if you keep quiet without moving your body, focusing your entire undivided attention on the subject of your meditation, your mind settles down and begins to experience the bliss of meditation.” (From the Daily Stoic e-newsletter)

Things to consider:

• In high-tempo moments, how can a leader clear his/her mind in order to avoid emotional reactions and split-second judgments? 
• Are you taking time daily to clear your mind and do some self-reflection? 
• Are you creating a leadership environment for your team that embraces self-awareness and reflection? 
• What methods can you implement to settle the muddy waters?

Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging a Little Deeper

• Here is a quick meditation technique from AlejoLab LifePotential similar to what our fellow student of leadership Ben Iverson shares in his workshops.

Until next time, be safe and lead well!

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About the Author: Pam McDonald is a writer/editor for BLM Wildland Fire Training and Workforce Development and member of the NWCG Leadership Subcommittee. The expressions are those of the author.