Power of Perception (Modeling Calm in Chaos)

👨‍👧‍👧 Adulting, Parenting & Positivity

Adulting is hard.

Parenting? Sometimes even harder.

Life itself? Often feeling impossible to survive. (Insert rim shot here.)

Being certified in emotional intelligence might make me qualified to educate others, but it doesn’t stop me from occasionally losing my mind. We’re all human.

When things go wrong—as they inevitably will—we need to stay focused on what we can control, and

manage what we can’t… ideally, with a positive attitude.

That mindset? It makes all the difference.

Even better—it’s contagious. And yes, it can be learned.

The (Literal) Breakdown

Nothing threatens to derail a magical day at the fair quite like your car breaking down— Ninety minutes from home.

Two young kids in tow. Zero backup plan.

We did our best to manage the situation.

But honestly? I wasn’t sure how well—until later.

Scrolling through the photos I’d taken, something caught me off guard: The look in my daughters’ eyes.

The genuine smiles on their faces. Wait—had I actually pulled this off?

Inside, I had been collapsing—juggling logistics, stress, cost, and exhaustion. But outwardly, they saw something entirely different.

Because of what they saw, they stayed calm. Cool.

Even collected—with a hint of “adventure.”

(I, for the record, did not share those sentiments.)

Reflections Through Their Eyes

Later, I thanked them for how well they handled the situation— And asked them how they did it.

Their answer surprised me.

“We saw you were calm.” (I was?)

“You didn’t get frustrated.” (I didn’t?)

“We knew it would be okay. You always take care of everything—especially us.”

Hollywood, here I come.

To top it off, they even said… It was fun. I beg to differ.

Fake It—For Good Reason

Your tone sets theirs.

If you can keep yourself composed, others are more likely to stay composed too.

Even if you’re faking it. Sometimes, that’s enough.

Because what others see becomes what they believe.

And what they believe shapes how they respond—not just in that moment, but in future ones too.

Composure isn’t just about getting through the day. It’s a model.

It teaches others what calm looks like in the face of chaos.

Especially for kids, it becomes a memory they’ll draw from—

Someday, when they’re the ones adulting.

Final Thought: Model Emotional Intelligence

You don’t need to be perfect.

Just present. Just aware.

Even when you’re scrambling internally, others don’t need to carry that weight. They’ll follow your cues—so give them the best ones you can.

Fake it if you have to.

Not because you're hiding— But because you’re leading.

Because one day, when life breaks down ninety minutes from someone’s comfort zone… You’ll want others to remember the look in your eyes.

Want to lead with more impact?

Let’s talk. I help individuals and teams put these principles into action—with clarity, intention, and measurable results.