A few months ago, we took our children—along with some of their friends—to Pegia, Pafos for some go-karting fun.
As we suited up, the staff helped us put on our helmets and secured the straps tightly. My kart was a two-seater, as I had to carry my six-year-old son who didn’t qualify for a single kart.
I felt slightly claustrophobic inside the snug helmet. At first, I couldn’t quite explain the discomfort. Only after the race did I realise: it wasn’t the helmet’s fit—it was the fact that I couldn’t remove it myself. We were never told how to undo it. Presumably, for safety reasons.
Fast forward to last Friday: we returned to the same location with mostly the same group. The moment the helmet was strapped in again, cortisol flooded my system. This time, the discomfort was immediate and overwhelming. Just before we entered the arena, I began to panic and asked the staff to remove it.
He did.
Then I asked:
“Can you please show me exactly how to unstrap this helmet?”
He replied, “You’re not supposed to remove it.”
“I know,” I said. “I won’t. But I need to know how.”
He showed me: it was a simple matter of pulling the strap in the opposite direction to unlock the mechanism.
That was it.
The panic vanished—not because I removed the helmet, but because I knew how to.
🔑 The Lesson:
Sometimes, what helps us step into the unknown isn’t the promise of safety—
…it’s the knowledge of what to do if things go wrong.
It’s knowing:
What to do.
Whom to call.
Where to go.
In short:
Have an escape plan, even if you don’t plan to escape.
💡 Three quick examples:
🗣️ Public speaking: Visit the venue beforehand. Walk the stage. Talk to the technician. Know where the clicker, mic, and fallback options are.
🤝 Difficult meeting: Have someone you can debrief with afterward. Knowing there’s a “safe harbour” helps anchor your confidence.
✈️ Travelling somewhere new: Spend 30 minutes walking around your hotel. Locate the nearest pharmacy, supermarket, and emergency services.
🧭 Final thought:
You rarely need the exit.
But knowing where it is… can make all the difference.
❓ What about you, dear reader?
How do you navigate truly stressful situations?
As always—
Wishing you a meaningful, focused, and productive week ahead.
Philippos