Editorials / Opinions

It is challenging to think clearly when you are under pressure and stress. Under those circumstances you will feel drained. You have little time or energy to focus. So how do people manage focus and clarity when under pressure?

The key to functioning well under pressure is lots of practice beforehand. This entails first developing skills without pressure followed by a great deal of additional practice under tension. When things are in disarray, you will automatically act in a manner based on your training.

There are many occupations that incorporate this preparation. Consider what's required for a person to become a pilot. The first step is to learn basic flying skills during good weather on a calm day. Next, the pilot learns to fly with various winds and at night. A flight simulator is utilized to develop flying techniques under a variety of adverse conditions that would be too dangerous to learn in an actual airplane.

When a pilot encounters actual unfavorable conditions in the air, his training kicks in enabling him to remain clear and focused under pressure. Because of the constant, repetitive training, he doesn't freeze up or panic.

Here are some other professions in which extensive practice is necessary to achieve focus and clarity under pressure: police officer, race car driver, soldier, fireman, actor, athlete, emergency room doctor, boxer, and martial artist. To become competent in any of them requires intense training prior to encountering real life situations.

It's easy to spot someone who has not had adequate practice. They will invariably freeze up under pressure and either fail to take appropriate action or make bad decisions. It's not magic, just a matter of sufficient preparation.

Obviously, stressful situations are not confined to those in specific occupations. Anyone can encounter them at any time. How can you maintain focus and clarity under pressure when there is no way to predict what situations you will have to deal with?

The process starts with realizing that you will encounter problems and there is a solution for each one. Next, appreciate adversity as an opportunity to practice remaining calm. Handling minor obstacles provide great experience you can apply to major ones.

Use your power of visualization to create a mental simulator where you can rehearse various scenarios and your ideal responses. This is an extremely effective method of conditioning yourself to remain calm under many different circumstances. The process of visualization can be as effective as actual experiences for conditioning your mind.

When you are under pressure, don't make rash decisions. Always think before acting. Few situations require an immediate response. Take time to intelligently assess your options before taking action. When possible, seek the advice of someone who has successfully dealt with a situation similar to yours. It is also helpful to step back from your problem to enhance your ability to view it objectively.

Another great way to get practice is to help others overcome their obstacles. It's easier to think clearly when the problem you need to solve is not your own. The experience you gain can then be applied when you have to maintain clarity for yourself.

In situations demanding quick action, think rather than panic. Your objective is to make the best possible decision with the information you have at hand. Create a list of positives and negatives of each option. Chose the option with the most positives.

It is very simple. The more obstacles you overcome, the greater your focus and clarity under pressure. With clear thinking you will make better decisions.

Sincerely,

Bryan Golden

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. Email Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. © 2025 Bryan Golden

I remember being represented by a congressman who wasn't afraid to meet with constituents in a public setting. Matt Cartwright regularly scheduled "Coffee with your Congressman" meetups throughout his district. I showed up for one he held at the Frackville Library and was impressed by the poise and dignity he displayed in response to some angry MAGA types. Most importantly, Cartwright listened to ALL of his constituents.

Not so with Dan Meuser. Since being elected to Congress, he has held zero in-person town halls in his district. Schuylkill Indivisible, of which I'm a member, has asked repeatedly for a town hall with Meuser to no avail. Instead, he engaged in juvenile name-calling, referring to his own constituents as "nasty" and "lunatics" because we hold different political views and ask tough questions.

Here are a few of the questions we want to ask our congressman:

Why do you keep repeating the lie that Democrats shut down the government (which the GOP can reopen) so that undocumented immigrants can participate in federal healthcare programs (which they are already ineligible for)?

Why did you run for Congress, an equal branch of our government, only to surrender your power to the executive branch?

What is your response to Trump's social media post showing him in a fighter jet dropping bombs of excrement onto fellow citizens? Do you deem that an appropriate presidential response? And do you share Trump's view that the millions of Americans like me who abhor his administration's policies are "the enemy within"?

Why is Trump permitted to attack boats in international waters without congressional approval? To date, the US has blown up 10 or more boats, killing nearly all onboard without giving anyone the opportunity to surrender.

Finally, when will you agree to a real town hall?

Sincerely,

Helen Sluzis, Morea, PA

Persistence is the foundation of success. Although there are many ways to describe success, there is only one definition of failure – giving up. Whatever your meaning of success, you will only achieve it through persistence.

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

~ Calvin Coolidge

Babe Ruth had more strike outs than anyone else in history. When asked about the key to his success he said, "I just keep swinging."

In the mid 1960's, Martin Cooper, an electrical engineer at Motorola, had a vision of a phone that could be carried around and powered by a battery. His concept was scoffed at by many of his fellow engineers. After 15 years in development, Motorola brought the cellular phone to market.

In 1864, he was born the son of slaves on a Missouri plantation. He grew up not knowing his parents. With persistence and determination, he put himself through college. To combat the racism he encountered, he excelled in everything he did. George Washington Carver became one of our nation's leading scientists and revolutionized agriculture.

At 205 pounds and standing 5'10" tall he was below average size for a pro football player. To build his strength and endurance he ran up steep hills while playing high school football. As a professional player he ran up an 80-yard hill, set at a 45-degree angle, 25 times a day. Determined to be the best he could be, he watched films of opponents until he could predict their moves. Football Hall of Famer, Walter Payton tied or beat seven NFL records during his 13-season career.

You are born without the concept of failure. How did you learn to walk? The first time you tried you immediately fell. But you didn't know you couldn't succeed and immediately tried again. And again, you fell down. But you never gave up. Hundreds of times you repeated this process until you learned to walk.

Persistence is getting up one more time than you fall down. Unfortunately, you are taught to give up and fail. How many times have you heard one or more of the following?

"Why bother, you'll never be able to do that – it'll never work," "Don't rock the boat, just do what you're supposed to do," "Why take chances?", "You'll never amount to anything," "Stop dreaming – come back to reality," "Why don't you give up already?", "I tried that already, it doesn't work."

If you had believed any of the above when you were learning to walk you would still be crawling! You didn't listen to bad advice then so why listen to it now?

When you feel like giving up, you must keep going. Only by continuing, when most others won't, will you achieve your goals. Don't join the ranks of those who have given up just around the corner from success. You never know where your corner is so you must never stop.

Sincerely,

Bryan Golden

Bryan is the author of "Dare to Live Without Limits." Contact Bryan at Bryan@columnist.com or visit www.DareToLiveWithoutLimits.com Copyright 2025 Bryan Golden