Two weeks ago I was in a half-day workshop on situational awareness, counter-intelligence, and home defense. It was a part of a larger course that included self defense and pistol training.
They use the terms permissive, semi-permissive, and non-permissive to describe different environments.
- Permissive is what most of us live in every day. “Safe”.
- Semi-permissive is when you’re not sure. A sketchy hood, an unfamiliar country.
- Non-permissive is a war zone. You are not welcome.
The most difficult to stay situationally aware in?
Permissive.
It feels safe. It feels familiar. Your guard is down.
The other environments raise your guard automatically. In a permissive environment, you have to train yourself to stay alert.
I realized this morning that this doesn’t just apply to situational awareness, but to gratitude.
I mean real gratitude. Appreciation. Not some gratitude journal where you shit out five random things every day.
When you are on vacation, in a new beautiful place, leaning back, letting the breeze graze your skin, breathing deep, feeling “wow, this is fantastic” is much easier.
I was in Rio three weeks ago, and if you don’t feel “wow” appreciation, that gratitude, watching the sunset on Ipanema with a caipirinha in your hand, I’m not sure what would.
Vacationland is your non-permissive environment, in this case meaning it’s easier to be grateful (not on high alert).
But now you are back at home. Normal apartment. Normal days.
You’re in your “permissive” environment again.
You have to consciously let yourself have those moments. Carve them out, while in your normal day to day.
Don’t wait until the next time you’re somewhere new. Take 2 extra minutes to sip your coffee on the balcony and just soak it in. Feel appreciation. Stop for a moment.
And then go back to your work.
