The greatest benefit to staying calm and maintaining your self control is that it's contagious. You just might find that by staying calm, everyone around you is just a bit more relaxed too.
So how do you stay calm and in control when everyone else is falling apart?
- Stay alert and focused on the person or situation causing the stress
- Take a deep breath
- Focus on your breathing
- Consciously relax your face muscles. Clenching your jaw only causes pain and more tension.
- Lower your voice. Everyone around you has to lower theirs in order to hear what you're saying.
- Think and then speak. If you do feel yourself getting angry, walk away and count to ten.
- Keep your perspective. Remind yourself that, in spite of the current situation, things could be worse.
Practicing these tips during stressful or intense situations will allow you to accurately assess the situation and to take appropriate action. Most importantly, you'll be able to stay calm and maintain your self control when everything and everybody else is out of control.
