Imagine that you are the captain of a multi-million dollar cruise ship that is in the process of carrying over two thousand passengers in what they thought was going to be the cruise of a life-time. Well it was… until a raging storm was heading straight for your ship! As the captain of your ship, it’s up to you to pull this one off.

You’ve spent years preparing for this event. Every penny of your education is about to get its worth over the next twenty-four hour period. All at once you notice that you are breaking out in a cold sweat as your nerves are starting to get the best of you. You tell yourself that you aren’t going to allow anything to interfere with what it is you must do. After all, lives are at stake!

The passengers are really worried. They know that the storm is a fierce one. Your cruise staff, officers and crew are trying not to show their concern, but you know they have to be scared too. As a leader you are well aware that you must model an energy of calmness and positivity. You are the key. When anyone looks at you, they have to know that everything is going to be OK. All of a sudden, major storm clouds darken the horizon and your big ship starts to toss. The winds are rapidly increasing. Your cold sweat turns into a steady flow of unstoppable moisture. “OK, just calm down. Breathe! You need to think back and remember what you learned so long ago about being totally fearless,” you say to yourself as you tightly grab hold of the ship’s wheel. Your mind goes blank. “Oh, come on now…it’s there. I can’t have forgotten this!”

As quick as the bolt of lightning you just saw out at sea, it all comes back to you…

#1 Don’t Freak Out…Breathe!

No matter how serious a situation might appear, you’ll never get through it if you add fuel to the fire and panic. Breathe, not just once, but concentrate on a steady flow and you’ll be able to focus getting through the task at hand

#2 There’s a Reason For Everything

Do things happen by accident? Consider the possibility that certain situations get put in your path for a reason. Could it be that it’s nothing better than a challenge to show yourself that you can get through any storm with flying colors? It’s up to what you believe.

#3 You’re a Winner!

Again, it’s all about choices. Believe that you can win, no matter what things might initially look like. Any athlete knows they have to believe they can win the game. They see and taste victory before the race even begins. If they can do it, so can you. We’re all made of the same stuff!

#4 F.E.A.R.

Fear stands for F-uture E-vents A-ppearing R-eal. The operative word here is “appearing”. Fear of how things might turn out is an apparition only because you haven’t arrived at the outcome of the challenging situation yet. Why waste energy projecting a fear of failure to something that hasn’t occurred? It takes just as much energy to feel positive about a future outcome as it does to choose to feel negative.

#5 Feel It. Know It. Do It.

Feeling and knowing that you can make it through any storm will be the fuel that gets you to the finish line. You can’t win unless you feel that you’re a success first. Just like you can’t walk unless you put one leg in front of the other. It’s about movement and it’s about doing. There’s no use feeling totally fearless when it comes to any situation if you don’t move forward with that knowing and just do it till it’s done! It’s one thing saying and feeling victory over fear, but it’s another getting to the finish line and having done it.

So wait a minute, could that really be the sun shining bright on the horizon? After five hours of your ship being tossed about, an end is in sight. Was it tough to get through? You bet it was. Your uniform is soaked with sweat! But you know that because of what you remembered about what it is to be totally fearless in the face of a fierce storm, not only did you get through, but so did all those souls on your ship. All because you chose the right mindset to cling to in the face of uncertain danger. So all you are left with now is a big question; How “uncertain” was the danger you were facing?

About the Author: Robert Landau (10 Posts)

Motivational Speaker Robert Landau spent a decade of his life as a Cruise Director sailing the world and meeting people from all cultures and all walks of life. In his keynotes, interactive programs and writings Robert encourages college students, professionals and everyday people to live using his three elements of a successful cruise by; 1) having fun, 2) planning your destinations and 3) making sure you're safe in case the waters get rough. Robert is available to keynote campus events or deliver workshops for your students and staff.