Some people had coffee to start their morning. I had an imaginary letter telling me I no longer had a job.
Best part? It was all part of the plan.
That was how our session with Dr Jefri Irwan started yesterday. No warm up, no slides with fancy graphs. Just a straight dive into a very real situation.
It was not your usual session on how to stay calm. This one made us think deeply and reflect honestly.
At one point, Dr Jefri asked us to do a short exercise. We had to imagine receiving that dreaded letter, and then write down a few things:
- Who to call and share – the people you would reach out to for emotional support
- List the feelings – the emotions you would feel and whether you are willing to name them
- Nak jumpa siapa for What’s Next – who you would talk to about your next step
- Apa yang aku akan hilang atau berubah – what you might lose or what could change in your life
- What will you get – the new opportunities or unexpected gains that might come your way
The whole exercise made something abstract feel real. It was a reminder of how differently our brains work depending on the situation.
When things are calm, we use the part of our brain that helps us plan, think clearly and make decisions. But in moments of fear or stress, that goes out the window. Our emotional brain takes over, and suddenly it is not about thinking anymore. It is about reacting.
So what can we do? Train the mind while it is calm. Build clarity before things get messy. Because when uncertainty hits, we fall back on what we have prepared.
And just to balance the heaviness, Dr Jefri also shared The Secret of Success:
- Sabar
- Tawakal
- Kabel
Yes, kabel. Because sometimes success also needs strong WiFi… or someone who knows someone.
Good session. Deep takeaway. And a gentle nudge to stay ready, even when everything feels steady.