The other day, a mom came into the martial arts school I teach at and asked if she could speak with me.
I told her, “Absolutely” and after a few minutes of welcoming new clients in, saying goodbye to those leaving, answering quick questions from both on their way, handling a few transactions, and solving a few problems—I signaled her in the lobby and walked her into an office.
When we sat down, she smiled and told me that she came in with a hot head and was ready to yell at whoever she could corner in an office. She explained that there was a car parked illegally in the lot that was causing chaos during one of the school’s peak class transition times—which was frustrating not just in itself, but because it wasn’t the first time.
…But, she continued by saying, after watching how calmly I managed the chaotic busyness in those few minutes inside the school—her anger was gone. She told me that it gave her perspective on the circumstance and reminded her that while it was frustrating, it didn’t have to create frustration and anger inside her—her daughter made it safely to class, the illegally parked car was moved, and everybody continued on with their day safely.
It was such a refreshing conversation and just an excellent reminder to not only maintain perspective, but to always deploy calm as a strategy for problem solving. The opposite almost always only becomes another compounded problem that needs solving.