Each of us has developed resilience, largely thanks to the challenges posed by COVID. We’ve learned the importance of getting back on our feet after adversity, continuing to push forward, investing time, and persevering. However, simply being resilient is no longer sufficient.
Reflect back to just a few months ago, prior to the holiday season. You were likely attempting to finalize numerous projects at work before taking a break, all while managing gift shopping, preparing to welcome relatives, or arranging travel plans. Your focus was scattered as you transitioned between tasks, which may have led to moments of frustration, lapses in memory about recent discussions, or restless nights.
Burnout can restrict flexibility.
This scenario is something many experience throughout the year. A recent survey conducted by the McKinsey Health Institute revealed that “on average, one-fourth of employees [from the 15 countries included in the survey] report symptoms of burnout.”
To make matters worse, many of the challenges we currently face are novel—issues such as supply chain disruptions, economic instability, and rapid technological advancements in the workplace. It’s essential that we cultivate an open mindset, enhance our awareness, learn to manage stress and our emotional responses, engage the executive functioning area of our brains, innovate, and become adept at thriving in uncertain situations.
Research indicates that when our brains sense threats, our “fight-or-flight” mechanisms kick in. Under heightened stress, the prefrontal cortex—which manages executive functions like planning, working memory, emotional processing, and cognitive flexibility—can be compromised. Ironically, during the times we need to adapt and learn the most, we may find ourselves physically unable to do so.
What does deliberate calm mean?
Fortunately, there is a method to break this cycle, enhance decision-making during stress, and mitigate burnout: deliberate calm. The term “deliberate” signifies the conscious choice about how to perceive and respond to various situations, while “calm” denotes the ability to remain focused and present when under pressure, navigating through turmoil without being overwhelmed by automatic reactions. Deliberate calm enhances your capacity to meet challenges with intention and purpose, even in the most stressful and novel circumstances we face.
Advantages of practicing deliberate calm
By engaging in deliberate calm, you will first cultivate dual awareness—recognizing both your internal thoughts, feelings, and experiences, as well as the external environment around you. You’ll acquire the ability to assess situations impartially, determining what is necessary in each instance and steering clear of reflexive behaviors.
Furthermore, through regular practice of deliberate calm—which requires consistent effort over time—you will develop emotional self-regulation skills and adaptability, even amid high-stress scenarios.
This strategy transcends the well-known and essential concept of resilience (defined by Forbes as “the ability to bounce back”). It emphasizes adaptability, which focuses on transforming challenges into opportunities for growth (bouncing forward). As noted in a McKinsey article, enhanced adaptability in the workplace correlates with increased learning capabilities, improved performance, confidence, and creative output. Ultimately, adaptability is a critical component of individual performance and is vital for psychological well-being, linking it to enhanced life satisfaction and better mental health overall.
Deliberate calm promotes adaptability skills, and we have observed these very results through our collaborations with global firms. By embracing deliberate calm, we can convert admiration into tangible actions and achievements.
