When you’re first taught how to swim, what was the first thing you learned? “Whatever you do, don’t panic!” Panic is one of the reasons people drown. It’s also the reason why you make disastrous unconscious decisions that dictate your life and why you get stuck in limbo not wanting to make a decision either way.

The ocean becomes symbolic of our lives where those who survive take a deep breath and go with the tide, and others who panic are swallowed by the waves of their own fear. A way to interrupt the flow of fear is to just notice it. Refocusing your attention on your physical sensations, your heart beating, your shoulders tensing, may help to shift your mood and prevent you from doing something you might regret. It could also help you easily get to next tip, which is, “Don’t React.”