Chapter 1: The Power of Perspective

Picture this scenario:

You find yourself amidst a catastrophic event.

Injuries abound. The air is filled with screams, flames engulf buildings, and sirens pierce through the chaos.

What actions do you take?

During my time in medical school, I participated in a week-long workshop focused on disaster medicine — essentially, how to respond effectively in crises.

We were confronted with questions that seemed daunting for inexperienced medical students:

"Stay calm and assess the situation."

"Breathe deeply."

While these suggestions are undoubtedly beneficial, they have a significant shortcoming: they are insufficient on their own.

So, what is the solution?

The answer lies in the Triage Principles.

Triage, derived from the French word “trier,” refers to the sorting and prioritizing process essential in emergencies. It represents the foundational steps needed when faced with extreme circumstances.

The ABCs of life-saving.

In practice, this method is utilized to classify patients based on the urgency of their conditions.

To illustrate this, consider the mental checklist of someone performing triage:

Is the patient mobile? Yes. Then, they fall into priority 3 (delayed treatment).

Is the patient mobile? No. Are they breathing? No. If not, perform airway restoration. Now breathing? Yes. Priority 1 (immediate).

The patient is breathing. What’s their respiratory rate? Below 10? Hyperventilation — priority 1 (immediate).

And so on. You get the idea.

"Even if someone is walking with a severe abdominal injury and bleeding profusely, they still fall under priority 3. Keep the ultimate goal in mind," one instructor reminded us.

I was taken aback by this statement.

I felt compelled to challenge it. "How could we delay treatment for someone clearly in distress?" I pondered.

Yet, her words reverberated in my mind. "Keep the ultimate goal in mind."

Then everything began to make sense.

The objective is to save lives.

It's about maximizing the number of casualties who can be treated and recovering as many individuals as possible. In such dire situations, emotional responses must not dictate actions.

The Triage Principles serve as a remedy for this.

They provide a framework to suppress emotional reactions and focus on necessary actions. This is the pivotal moment that distinguishes what is feasible from what is imperative.

After the workshop, I returned home feeling invigorated.

Ironically, not about the complexities of disaster medicine but rather the profound lesson from that instructor.

I recognized that this is a valuable takeaway for all of us. A lesson that transcends emergency situations and applies to our daily lives: "Keep the ultimate goal in mind."

Let’s envision another scenario.

This time, I was personally involved. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

I was on a phone call with my mother.

What started as a brief catch-up turned into a minor disagreement.

We were revisiting a topic we had discussed multiple times, and she reiterated her usual points.

As I felt my emotions surge, adrenaline coursing through me, I paused and asked, "What is the goal here?"

Is it to be right? Or to listen and understand?

In that moment, I chose to listen.

I recalled the triage principles: prioritize based on the needs of the situation rather than emotional responses.

The goal was not to win an argument but to be present with my mother.

This simple question — "What is the goal here?" — allowed me to shift my perspective and respond constructively rather than destructively.

Chapter 2: The Importance of Clarity

Imagine it’s a slow Monday morning at work.

You find yourself in a spirited debate with a colleague regarding a project’s direction. Voices are elevated, and the tension is palpable. Defensive instincts kick in as you prepare to argue your point vehemently. But then, you pause to reflect:

"What is the goal here?"

Is it to prove your correctness, or is it to discover the best solution for the project?

Alternatively, consider this situation:

You’re preparing dinner for friends.

You’ve planned a multi-course meal that requires precise timing and coordination. Suddenly, you realize you’re falling behind schedule. The main dish isn’t cooking as expected, and stress begins to mount.

On the brink of frustration, you take a moment to ask:

"What is the goal here?"

Is the aim to deliver a flawless meal, or is it to create an enjoyable evening with friends?

Asking this simple question can be transformative: it diverts focus from the pressure of perfection to the core purpose of the task. In this case, it’s about cherishing moments with friends and savoring good food together.

You might simplify the menu, serve dishes family-style, or enlist your friends’ help with final touches.

Although it’s a straightforward inquiry, it’s one we often overlook.

Instead, we become engulfed in the hustle and bustle of daily life. We switch to auto-pilot and allow our emotions to drive our decisions.

But now you possess the knowledge to regain control.

This can occur at any moment, starting with a simple question:

"What is the goal here?"

This video, "Finding Calm in the Chaos: Five Strategies for Reducing Stress," provides practical strategies to regain serenity during turbulent times.

In this video, "How to Find the Calm Within the Chaos," you will discover methods to cultivate inner peace amidst life's chaos.