The ‘5 Gs’ – generous, giving, grace, gratitude, and grit – can help foster a mindset of growth, trust, and resilience

First responders live in what-if or worst-case scenarios. They allow us to excel at our jobs when responding to any call for help. We are not given a CliffsNotes version of what has happened regarding the call for help. That means there’s an enormous amount of unknowns. This mindset is embedded in us from our first day of training, to prepare us for a career as a first responder. We become experts in what-if/worst-case and use it in any scenario, emergency or not.

Over our career, we also develop a BS meter that helps fill the gap when what-if/worst-case doesn’t apply. Now throw in compassion fatigue, PTS, and management issues, and you have a recipe for a mind that only thinks negative what-if/worst-case.

I have experienced and seen that negative mindset firsthand. It’s a dark and lonely rabbit hole where you become the disgruntled, angry, and never happy first responder. You find others avoid you completely, or love to push your buttons to get you fired up for entertainment purposes. Others don’t care about the consequences you’ll face because of your passionate, negative mindset.

For myself, it’s a daily struggle to avoid the negative news, conversations, or thoughts of what-if/worst-case that could play out in the day. This mindset creates a deep sense of distrust and constant vigilance, with the belief everyone is out to screw you over….