COMMENTARY: A life of balance

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Edward Prestley
  • 100th Communications Squadron first sergeant
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Three concepts spring to mind as I consider how to prepare the Airmen of tomorrow: develop a team mentality, network and know yourself.

Developing a team mentality starts by recognizing the boundaries already established, getting in sync with them and using the structure to carry the team to the next level. It's the time for building technical proficiency while learning what drives the machine forward. This doesn't happen without the members of the team transitioning from an individual to a team mentality.

When a team works together, it stands out as part of the mechanism enabling the overall machine to operate more efficiently and effectively.

Be aware, some people have trouble internalizing this idea because they have problems caring about the team more than they care about themselves. When people accept this idea, however, you will find the collective many are much more powerful that the isolated few.

Once team mentality is understood, connecting one team with other teams by networking can begin. Teams specialize, so one team cannot possibly solve all problems. Taskings come from different directions, at different times, with different timelines, so we must learn to be adaptable and flexible. Networking on an appropriate scale in relation to the tasking secures these critical abilities.

As one moves up in the order of the team, the networking abilities normally improve because they are exposed to more and more situations where it is necessary. Two or more teams relying on one another to accomplish a complex mission tasking is the essence of what networking is all about.

The last piece of the puzzle is to know yourself. It's often the most neglected concept and therefore causes the most problems for the young Air Force member. What fuels you and drives your spirit? Have you ever really thought about what you want out of life?

Some answers may be shallow, while others remain hidden in the murky deep. The point is to search out the path you want to follow and learn to free yourself from the effects of stress. A path can be discovered and stress can be dealt with in a number of ways.

First, be open and honest with yourself about what you really want. Are you doing something because you want to do it, or because a parent or peer is influencing you? How can you figure out what you want if you don't look? There is no secret charm or book of learning that will tell you how you feel and what you want out of life. You have to go search for it, and not stop until you find it. Sure, examples can be found everywhere, from real life examples to electronic media and books, but being honest with yourself is the starting point. Everyone has his or her own influences and motivations. The key is to de-conflict what is real and what isn't.

Next, learn to recognize the effects of stress building up. We all develop coping strategies during the course of life, but we all have unique backgrounds. Some strategies work in some situations and for some people, while others don't seem to work at all. You have to learn to recognize how you react to different stressors, and then take positive action to minimize the ill-effects on your life. After a while you can even learn to anticipate stress before it hits full on.

The next step is learning to channel the energy stress generates. Don't give in to the temptation to act out and go binge drinking or fight someone. Learn to control the initial emotional response and use the stress as a fuel source to complete a task or engage in a hobby. It is easier said than done in the infant stages of emerging emotional intelligence, but with understanding and practice, it can be a source of energy that keeps one going and in control.

Exercise is a common outlet for Air Force members, but the target doesn't have to be purely physical. Anything that can help burn off excess emotional energy can be put to use. Running might be a good first answer, but also you might think about different avenues like intramural sports, pursuing a college degree or volunteering in the community.

Lastly, learn to let go of the past; don't live there. This involves understanding the maturation process and ensuring it continues moving forward. Some people seem to live in the past, whether it's in remembering successes or failures or dwelling on what once was. It's a pitfall to consider yesterday to be better than what today or tomorrow could be. Time has a way of skewing memory, and sometimes our mind morphs the past into things much worse or much better than they actually were. Learn from the past, but don't live there.

The Air Force needs leaders and followers who are solid both on and off duty. If we learn to embrace a team mentality, network properly and really seek to understand who we are as individuals, the path to future success often rises to meet us. It takes effort and perseverance, but if you look around, there are those who have been there and done that who are willing to support you on this endeavor in finding a life of balance so our Air Force remains the best the world has ever seen.