Is your life like a live battlefield sometimes? Cornel West said, “We are on the battlefield, and there are bullets flying, some symbolic, some literal and… the mind is a crucial place where the battle goes on.” It is no wonder that books like Joyce Meyer’s ‘Battlefield of the Mind’ make the New York bestseller list. I don’t know what battle you are fighting right now. I do know that, as Henry Ward Beecher said, “More heroism has been displayed in the household and the closet, than on the most memorable battlefields in history.” You don’t have to be a Marine to know battle. Furthermore, no matter your current battle, what matters is your strategy and your training.
You learned ‘AITO’ in the Unsinkable post on Day 31 of the IGNITE Challenge (https://youtube.com/live/_RyipbuFYVk):
- you adapt
- you improvise
- you trust
- you overcome.
The US Marine Corps prevails in combat and disaster relief. In those scenarios, they tap into immense adaptability and innovative problem-solving that is drilled into them in training. Like you in the household and the closet, they navigate unprecedented conditions and frequently have to make “somewhat-informed guesses.’ If you are at a time of peace in your life, use that as an opportunity to train your brain in combat strategies. Here are three practical ways you can do that.
Thriving in Uncertainty: Embrace change and develop flexible strategies for navigating unforeseen circumstances. Like the Marines you must operate effectively in chaotic environments. You already do this every day. Recognize it, acknowledge it, and then seize opportunities like a Marine and whip them into shape. Flexibility, strategizing, and adapting are important aspects of your divine brain. Staying stuck in a rut is a component of the lizard brain (https://youtu.be/wxLYKwpYbiI.) If you cannot embrace change and wrangle with chaos, you’re on your way to losing the battle.
- Innovative Solutions: Encourage creative thinking and resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles, especially in children. Let them do things and figure them out. Don’t step in too soon to help. People are amazing problem-solvers, until it’s beaten out of us. Don’t be quick to say, “that won’t work.” We especially do that with our spouses. Respect those around you by practicing giving full thought to ideas. The greatest ones throughout history were met with resistance just because they were novel.
- Rapid Decision-Making: Focus on developing the ability to make effective decisions under pressure, a critical skill demonstrated by the Marines during high-stakes rescue operations. This is becoming one of my favorite strategies. It works very well in low stakes situations so as to prepare you to do so competently in higher stakes scenarios. I’ll share an impactful deep dive on this tomorrow.
CTA:
- Do you find relief in knowing that you don’t have to know exactly how things will go and can therefore make “somewhat-informed guesses?
- Train your brain to embrace change. Vary your route to a regular destination, try matching a completely different outfit, modify a recipe. Share two simple things that you do regularly that you will you do in a different way today.
- How do you feel about rapid decision-making?