Most of us are familiar with the distinction between being reactive and proactive. And while we need to have the flexibility to react, it’s usually preferable to be proactive. We can wait until the car breaks down and then reactively take it in for maintenance. Better yet, we can proactively take it in for routine maintenance and head off any problems.
The same general idea applies to our health. Regular checkups, exercise, good nutrition and sleep are proactive ways to stay in shape, keep the energy levels up and promote healing in the event of an injury. A reactive attitude of responding to challenges without adequate preparation will leave us more susceptible to injury, require more recovery time and likely leave us with low energy.
A proactive attitude means anticipating possible scenarios and taking action to prevent or address them before they happen. It reduces stress by identifying potential issues in advance, giving a sense of confidence and competence. A reactive approach to life is more likely to lead to stress, when we experience the emotional and physical weight of having to respond to something we aren’t prepared for.
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In my observations and conversations with public safety providers, it’s apparent that police, fire and paramedic work involves a mix of proactive and reactive interventions. Initiating conversations, offering to be of assistance, and performing a traffic stop are proactive. Hosting school programs, telling students about the work of a first responder and letting them see the ambulance or fire truck are proactive. You might intentionally engage with community members dozens of times a day.
There are also times when a situation requires you to react – a call for service, a cry for help, a potentially dangerous event that calls for a reaction. But even in those incidents that invoke a reaction, I would argue that there is a proactive aspect to your response. Training and preparation enable you to respond with confidence and self-assurance. You’re not making it up as you go.
In the same way, there are things we can do proactively to help ourselves respond to the normal stresses that go with public safety. We can take care of our physical health. We can develop self-awareness, understanding our own internal strengths and weaknesses. We can tend to our mental and spiritual well-being, building strong relationships for support that we can draw on after challenging calls and on difficult days. We can proactively familiarize ourselves with the support resources that are available.
Building a culture of support
Some years ago, I was on the Twin Cities Metro Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team. During a course on incident management, the trainer said, “the time of a crisis is not the time for us to be shaking hands.” He went on to talk about the importance of purposefully building relationships with our public safety partners, everyone who might show up at the scene of a crisis. Proactively taking the time to get to know your resources will be invaluable when the day comes that you need those resources.
That’s where we as your chaplains come in. While many public safety agencies have chaplains available to serve the community, we are here to support you. This is a different model than many are familiar with. Our community-based and community-focused colleagues do some important work and provide a valuable service. But by design, theirs is a reactive model of chaplaincy. When a situation arises, the chaplain is paged and responds.
Our approach is proactive. We come to work on ordinary days, when everything is running smoothly. We look for opportunities to chat, walk or ride along as you do your regular duties. We accompany you, bearing witness to the vital and life-giving work you do every day. We’re pretty good at small talk, making conversation, getting to know you, even just a little. The goal is that if/when something big happens, we’re not strangers, and you’re not invisible. In those instances, we might contact you to say hey, I’m aware of that incident you were involved in, and I want you to know of my concern and support. Then we stop, and wait and listen. It’s up to you to respond however you want. We don’t take it personally if you choose to utilize us or other resources.
How do you unwind and process an intense day at work? You might prefer talking with your own network of friends and family, members of the peer support team, or other community resources. Or maybe you’re more comfortable with one of the chaplains, who you’re familiar with but don’t socialize with. It doesn’t matter; we have no expectations.
The point is, everyone wins when we have a culture of support – our coworkers, the organizations we work for, our families and friends, the people we go home to, and the communities where we live. We can proactively prepare for the tough days, so we’re less stressed and can be confident that we have the support we need.
