This piece explores mental preparedness, the difference between panic and action, and why thinking through worst-case scenarios often creates calm rather than fear.
A guy coughed violently on my left peripheral the other day.
It wasn’t a polite cough. Nor was it a “clear your throat” cough.
It was one of those guttural, ‘something is wrong’ coughs.
For a split second I thought he was choking or having a stroke. I turned my head fast… only to realize he was just — coughing.
Nothing happened, thankfully.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about what if.
Questions We Avoid
What if he was in trouble? What if his eyes rolled back? What if he dropped?
What would I have done?
Most of us don’t like sitting with those questions. They feel dark and dramatic. Like we’re tempting fate just by ruminating on them. We tell ourselves, that won’t happen to me.
But that exact outlook (the refusal to acknowledge tragedy) is what leaves people completely unprepared when it shows up anyway.
The Difference Between Panic and Action
Had something happened, I know what I would’ve done.
Not because I’m brave. Nor am I superhero.
It’s the simple fact I thought about it before.
Two years ago, I took a one-hour CPR class. Most things I learned in that room are very blurry now, but there was one ideology that stuck with me and never left:
Structure travels in the midst of chaos.
If I thought the man was having a medical emergency I wouldn’t freeze like a deer in headlights. I wouldn’t stare at him hoping someone else would step in. I’d act.
I’d go up to him, arm-whip him in the chest and say loud and clear:
“ARE YOU OKAY?”
No response?? No problem (clearly there is a problem but you know what I mean).
Now I lay him down and start chest compressions.
Then, this is the part most people don’t think about: I’d assign roles.
“YOU in the blue coat and glasses.”
“YOU in the red shirt with curly hair.”
“YOU’RE BOTH helping me carry him to the platform at the next stop.”
It’s crucial that you point people out individually and give them jobs. Because something vague like “someone help” leaves everyone looking at the next person, waiting for leadership to magically appear.
“YOU. Black skirt, ponytail. YOU are going to call 911.”
“YOU. Yankee hat, blue sweater. Find an employee at the station.”
Now there’s structure. Panic doesn’t get to run the room.
We have it under control — dangling, but still gripped by the balls.
This Isn’t Instinct
This is not my natural disposition.
I’m introverted. I avoid being the loudest voice in the room. I don’t enjoy drawing attention to myself. Barking orders at strangers is far outside my comfort zone.
And that’s the point.
It’s not my natural instinct to take charge and insert myself. Left to instinct alone, I’m more likely to freeze. Especially if I don’t know what to do.
I can act because I already thought about what I’d do if I did.
Why Most People Freeze
They freeze because they’ve never rehearsed the moment.
Their brain hits a wall it’s never touched before.
Just adrenaline and confusion (and confusion comes from the devil).
Thinking about a worst case scenario doesn’t make you anxious. It gives your brain a reference point. Even a rough one is better than nothing.
This Applies To More Than CPR
This isn’t just about medical emergencies.
Do you know your escape plan if there’s a mass shooter at your job?
Do you know where the exits are when you walk into a building?
Do you know which direction you’d run if the front entrance was blocked?
Do you know where you’d hide if running wasn’t an option?
Do you know who you’d grab first if something went wrong? Your kid, your partner, or the person next to you who froze?
Do you know how to shut off the electricity in your apartment?
Do you know how to put out an electrical fire? (Hint: water is dangerous to use.)
Do you know where the fire extinguisher is? Not do you know it exists, but do you know where it is?
Do you know how to use it?
If someone collapsed in front of you, do you know how to react? Or do you instinctually look for someone in scrubs?
If the power went out do you have a flashlight? Do you know how to start a fire?
When unpredictability hits, do you know how to keep calm? Do you panic?
Most people avoid these questions. I try not to.
Not that I expect disaster, but I respect the fact that life is unpredictable.
Preparedness is humility.
It’s saying, I don’t control the world, but I can control my response.
The Quiet Confidence Of Being Ready
Lord, I pray I’m never in a situation where I need to give someone CPR. I genuinely hope I never have to put my hands on someone’s chest and fight for their life.
But if it happens?
I thought about it.
By thinking it through, I’m more equipped than the version of me who never considered it. And probably more equipped than the average person who’s hoping nothing bad ever interrupts their day.
Thinking Ahead
Most tragic moments don’t announce themselves. They show up uninvited, in ordinary places, at inconvenient times.
Thinking about them doesn’t make you dark. It makes you useful.
In moments where everything goes sideways, being useful can be the difference between panic… and purpose.
Author’s Note
This essay sits alongside other reflections on preparedness, behavior under pressure, and how people respond when unpredictability interrupts the mundane:
In emergency and safety contexts, this mindset is often described as situational awareness. The practice of noticing your environment, anticipating disruptions, and orienting yourself before action is required.
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