A Brief History
Today, you might ask yourself, “What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan?” When you find yourself hit out of nowhere with an unfortunate accident, a troubling situation, or a conflict? Do you usually keep your cool, or do you lose it completely?
Studies show that people who are able to keep their composure in challenging situations often lead a more successful and peaceful life. You might think that it’s easier said than done, which is true. But perhaps if you realize how important it is to keep your cool, then you might get motivated to put in the extra effort.
Here are 9 reasons why it is important to keep your composure.
Digging Deeper
1. You Will Act Rationally in Difficult Situations
Difficult situations happen, and they are often associated with a severe emotional experience that causes a lapse of judgment. Imagine getting into a car accident that leaves you or your loved ones in grave danger. By keeping your composure in such a situation, you will be quick to consider your legal options after a car accident and you will take the correct action. If you contact a lawyer right away, they will give you the advice you need to manage the situation and preserve your rights, instead of getting caught up in the moment and losing the chance to collect evidence, or failing to act quickly when you need to.
2. You Will be able to See the Full Picture
Keeping your composure often entails that you take a deep breath and try to separate yourself emotionally from whatever is going on. Once you achieve that, you will be able to look at the full picture and connect the missing dots. For instance, you may understand that your partner has acted in a weird manner as a result of their stress, and you will give them the benefit of the doubt instead of attacking them. You will become more compassionate, and you will always make the right judgment call.
3. You Will Foresee Problems
Being able to keep your composure and seeing the full picture will give you another advantage; you will foresee problems before they arise. When that happens, you will be able to take preventive measures to avoid predictable problems from happening altogether. It’s a great risk-management skill to have, one that will benefit you both personally and professionally.
4. You Will Avoid Fights
When disagreements arise, it is human nature for each party to try to prove themselves right. In the process, they may try to turntables, and that usually ends in a fight between the parties. By keeping your cool, you will be able to take a more rational look into the other party’s perspective, often reaching the conclusion that each of you has a valid point, and that it’s only a case of misunderstanding. Instead of getting caught up in the argument, you will be able to maintain a civilized discussion that will clear the miscommunication.
5. You Will Focus Your Energy on What Matters
A lot of time and energy are wasted in meaningless situations, when this can be simply avoided. When you take rational steps in resolving conflict and avoiding meaningless fights, you will cut the drama out of your life. You will focus your time and energy on what truly matters, by taking productive steps every day in building a better version of yourself.
6. You Will be Able to Guide Others
By being the sound of reason at a time when everyone else is controlled by their turbulent emotions, you will be able to guide others in making the right decision. You will understand their points of view and their feelings, and you will help them see the bigger picture that they can’t fully grasp at the moment. In due time, you will find them seeking your help whenever they are in trouble.
7. You Will Leave a Good Impression
There is an air of tranquility and confidence around people who can keep their composure. They walk into the room, and people instantly get the impression that they know what they’re doing. Potential partners feel a sense of safety and trust toward them, workmates respect them, and bosses take one look and know that they can be trusted to handle the job, even under the most pressuring situations. If you keep your cool, you will leave a good impression wherever you go without needing to utter a single word.
8. You Will Develop Patience
Keeping your composure isn’t an easy task to maintain in all situations. Sometimes, situations that are extremely challenging on mental, psychological, or physical levels can make it almost impossible to maintain your calm. Even the most composed of people can lose their cool in such cases; however, the fact is, composure is a skill that can be learned, honed, and developed with time. You might find it extremely difficult to keep calm in traffic, but two weeks after putting your mind into it, you will start to enjoy the music you’re blasting instead of cursing at other drivers. The more you practice, the better you will get at it, and the more patient you will become.
9. You Will Maintain Better Health
Perhaps the most important reason for keeping composure is that you will get to enjoy your peace of mind. You will start to appreciate life more, and you will get to enjoy the little things. You will expose yourself to lower levels of stress and anxiety, which will maintain good mental health. In turn, this will give you the opportunity to take better care of your overall health, and improve your physical fitness as well. With well-maintained mental and physical health, you will be able to live a more balanced life. You will also give your all to your work by focusing your energy on being productive. Consequently, your relationships and connections will not suffer when you’re under stress. You will be in complete control over your life, and you will love it.
Keeping total composure is not always easy. In fact, sometimes it feels impossible. But failing to do so could result in terrible consequences that could be avoided by having a rational mind. This goes to show how a well-composed person can act in a difficult situation, and how they’re able to see the full picture, foresee problems, avoid fights; and thus focus their energy on what matters. If you practice to keep your composure, you will be able to gain the trust of people easily, offer them guidance and leave a good impression wherever you go. With practice, you will develop more patience, which will allow you to enjoy a peaceful and healthy lifestyle.
Question for students (and subscribers) to ponder: How do you maintain your composure when dealing with problems?
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Siegel, Ronald D. The Mindfulness Solution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems. The Guilford Press, 2010.
The featured image in this article, a photograph by geralt, is licensed under the Pixabay License.