Thought determines action. I came across this principle, and it had an impact on me, as everything we respond to in law enforcement is a result of someone's actions. I reflect on so many unfortunate situations that required our presence and, in many cases, intervention in the form of citations, arrests or incarceration—a great many of them preventable.
Over the years, I have tried to understand what drives such actions, and I have come to believe that no action is purely spontaneous but rather has its foundation in our thoughts. So the question becomes: If thought determines action, how do we master our thoughts so that the actions that are a byproduct of them serve to improve our lives rather than become a detriment?
There are so many messages and narratives bombarding us each and every day, but none of them have power unless we allow them into our minds. These messages influence us from the moment we wake up until we fall asleep, and in some cases, they even follow us into our dreams.
The good news is that we have complete control over what we let in and what we cast out. There is, in fact, a word for this: self-efficacy, or, in other words, self-determination. Studies have shown that positive self-efficacy has a greater influence on our success in a given effort than our actual skill for that effort.
If you embark on an endeavor while believing you are not capable or worthy, you will, in fact, struggle more than if you approach that same effort with a positive mindset.
Our thoughts can either propel us forward or become an anchor chain, so we must first master our thoughts—our internal message. We need to "center," which is to say, take a tactical pause, find a place of serenity and, from that new foundation, determine the next best steps.
A great tool to use in this process is a personal mantra, or personal saying. One of my favorites is, "It's all good." No matter what frustrating situation or individual I may be dealing with, I say to myself in the moment, "It's all good." This isn't to say that I am in denial of the frustration, struggle or even anger, but rather that I control my thoughts, thereby controlling my actions. Is it easier said than done? Possibly. But preserving a positive and controlled mental state will serve us far better than the alternative: an uncontrolled, emotional and, many times, destructive response.
This has been my lesson after three decades of countless calls and interventions in which good people found themselves in bad situations. It is not a matter of whether they were justified in their response, but whether that response brought about the best outcome.
This kind of internal messaging takes some effort. You may want to write your phrase on a sticky note and place it on your bedroom mirror so it is the first thing you see each morning. You may want to place it on your dashboard as a gentle reminder during frustrating commutes. However you choose to incorporate it, realize that you are forming a new habit—a habit of positive thoughts and personal encouragement. Once established, you will find yourself returning to those positive messages and, ultimately, positive actions, even in times of struggle.
