S.O. S. Stands for Separation of Space. Separate your emotions from a challenging situation to regain balance and objectivity.
Of all the concepts I’ve taught over the years, this one remains to be the most popular and sought after. It’s simply because stress is a big part of our daily reality and this simple technique diminishes stress levels of all types.
S.O.S. is a visualization exercise to create a “Separation of Space” between an intense situation and your emotional behavior.
It is usually during an intense situation when people become reactive and make mistakes.
Extreme emotional “highs” and “lows” can cause you to lose your objectivity and control. You need to remain balanced and focused.
When you feel your emotions rising in a given situation follow these steps:
STOP and take a breath.
Mentally “Send out an S.O.S.” by separating your emotional behavior from the situation.
View the situation objectively and openly.
Select the appropriate behavior, action or attitude to manage through the situation with the highest level of integrity, professionalism and efficiency.
The S.O.S. technique works by focusing your positive energy on a specific action that is best suited to manage through the situation successfully. It follows the philosophy of think first, then act. But the visualization of separating your emotions takes this concept to a new and even more powerful level of managing your stress.
S.O.S. keeps you centered and allows you to make stronger, more objective decisions. S.O.S. helps you think in a proactive manner, allowing you to accomplish more in less time.
I encourage you to do the following to master this simple technique.
This week pay attention to how highly-intense situations influence your emotions and actions. When you notice that you are allowing the circumstances of a situation to alter your emotional balance, PRACTICE S.O.S. Create a performance journal dedicated to your success and document how S.O.S. helped you in this situation. What did S.O.S. make you realize? Was S.O.S. effective? Why?
Be in the NOW.