"You don't rise to the occasion, you sink to your training and habits." -- Brian Cain
We're all faced with monumental challenges and emergency situations. Our tendency is to think that we'll "step up" and rise to the occasion when it matters most. But this thinking can get us into serious trouble.
For instance, if someone close to me needed CPR or a defibrillator, I'd like to think I'd be calm and collected enough in the moment to pump on their chest to the beat of "Stayin' Alive" or follow the instructions on the defibrillator to administer a life-saving shock to the heart. But this emergency situation isn't going to flip some magical switch that puts me into super hero mode. More likely, this emergency situation is going to cause me to panic, and make it necessary that I fall back on what I know and what I feel comfortable doing.
This is why we train for emergencies. We know that stress and pressure are going to make it more difficult to think clearly and rationally.
It's not just emergency situations for which we must be prepared.
If we get a new job with larger responsibilities, we can't rely on the same trainings and the same habits that got us the new job with larger responsibilities. We must dive into new trainings. We must incorporate new habits. We must raise our floor instead of assuming the higher ceilings will allow us to figure things out.
Each of us is capable of so much more than we think. But that doesn't mean we're capable of meeting the challenge that's right in front of us. The only sure-fire way to give ourselves the best chance to meet the moment is by consistently putting in the work. We must make training a habit. Only then will it feel like we've risen to the occasion.
Make it a great day!
Coach Chris