Mental Emergency Preparedness
It was 17 years ago, and I was sitting in my cubical when I heard shuffling footsteps behind me.
“Hey Erika, I’ve got a question for you…”
George Vandewater, proud member of the American Legion, Americorp Vista, and adopted grandpa of the office has come to help me understand emergency preparedness.
“Ok… sure… shoot!” I reply
“What level is your gas tank at right now?”
“Um…” as a new college grad working a non-profit job and eating mac and cheese for dinner most nights, I’m sure it was low. “Probably just under a quarter of a tank?”
“If there’s a natural disaster or other emergency, you’d be in trouble.”
He then showed me that one of the unexpected difficulties during hurricane Katrina was the gridlock that happened as people tried to leave the city. As people were stuck in traffic, people with low fuel tanks ran out of gas and had to abandon their cars.
George then gave me a tip I’ve remembered ever since,
“To be prepared for an emergency, keep your gas tank at least half full.”
I’ve thought of this moment many times since as I’ve studied stress.
When the daily hassles of our life drain our own ability to handle stress, it’s like letting yourself get into the habit of keeping your gas tank levels low. Sure, you may be able to get from place to place, but if there’s a bigger emergency, you’re sunk.
When bigger stressors—aka things that trigger emergency mode—hit us, our ability to handle that emergency well will depend on how mentally and emotionally fatigued we are from our daily stressors. If I’m too tired, I’m going to go into what is known as a “threat state.” Meaning, I’m going to treat everything as if it’s attacking me. Most likely, I’ll be much more emotionally reactive and the odds of performing well in this scenario are not good.
If my emotional and cognitive gas tank aren’t too low, however, (say at half full or more) when that emergency stressor hits, I’m more likely to go into what is known as a “challenge state.” In challenge state, the same hormones that freaked me out in threat state now work in the opposite way. They can provide clarity, new drive, strength, and compassion. Things that when it comes to an emergency will only help you perform better than before.
So, what is your mental and emotional gas tank level at right now? How prepared for an emergency do you feel?
If you’d like to learn more about how to keep your own gas tank at better levels, stick with me. I write, speak, and teach about how to reduce your stress without sacrificing success through the art of Even-Achieving.
Thanks for reading with me today! I hope you’re finding quick ways to add fuel to your tank this week.
