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When you're under pressure — whether it's a personal emergency or a global crisis — it's easy to fall into reactive thinking. Our instinctive brain takes over, and before we know it, we’re making split-second decisions that feel urgent but aren’t always wise. So how do you stay grounded and clear when life throws its toughest challenges at you?
Watch the full video on YouTube:
In high-stress situations, your amygdala — the survival-focused part of the brain — kicks in first. Its job is to keep you safe. It exaggerates threats, releases energy reserves, and fuels quick reactions. That’s great if you’re escaping a wildfire or dodging immediate danger. Not so great for strategic decision-making.
Ramin shares an example from Los Angeles during recent wildfires. People panicked, abandoned their cars, and made irrational choices driven by fear. While the urgency was real, not all the decisions were actually helpful.
When you pause — even for a few seconds — you activate a higher-functioning part of the brain: the medial prefrontal cortex. This region is responsible for rational thinking, weighing outcomes, and connecting actions with long-term consequences.
Here’s what you can do:
This technique is backed by studies in cognitive neuroscience that show reflective analysis leads to more optimal decision-making compared to impulsive action under stress (Carter et al., Nature Neuroscience, 2009).
In moments of fear, we often shut down external advice. But staying open to multiple perspectives can save you from tunnel vision. Whether you're evaluating the risk of air pollution or deciding how to respond to financial pressure, openness leads to better analysis.
It’s not about believing everything — it’s about considering everything before you choose.
As Ramin puts it, long-term clarity emerges when you consider how your decision affects all areas of life, not just the problem at hand.
Many of us think intuition is just a gut feeling. But real intuition arises when you’re able to see a situation clearly — with equal awareness of pros and cons.
At that point, the fear fades, and your inner compass kicks in. That’s when your wisest decisions are made. They aren’t driven by panic. They’re built on insight.
💡 Want to explore this idea further? Read The Part of the Brain That Helps You Achieve Your Highest Goals to understand how your prefrontal cortex supports conscious decisions.
One of the greatest downsides of reactive thinking is missing the opportunities hidden in the challenge. They’re always there — but panic narrows your focus to danger alone.
By stepping back, asking better questions, and balancing your thinking, you open the door to unexpected growth, support, or new paths forward.
You don’t need to rush every decision. If the moment allows, take 5–10 minutes to reflect — or even an hour if the stakes are high. Wise action beats fast action every time.
You don’t have to wait for a crisis. Train your brain now:
Like any muscle, your clarity improves with repetition.
You don’t need to be ruled by your emotions in hard times. You have the tools to pause, reflect, and decide from a place of awareness — even when life gets intense.
If you want more support with this, or you'd like help training your mindset for high-pressure situations, feel free to get in touch.
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