Reflecting and Remembering

As we approach the end of another year, there is always a time that will hold true and dear in my heart. It is a time for remembering and reflecting. It is a very personal but equally shared moment of the year.

It is a reminder of the courage and determination shown by those who took a stance to defend the values and culture of a nation and society. Also, to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure those who came after them, could live in relative freedom without tyranny and dread.

One of the things I feel this time of year is a sense of gratitude. This gratitude does not only reflect those who have fallen but, extends to the many who are willing to show their recognition of those who have served. Many do it, regardless of their views on recent conflicts either for or against, are able to show solitude for a couple of minutes, that they in the moment are grateful and have the ability to reflect on the sacrifices made.

I believe, It is during this period, it cements the idea of collaboration and the coming together of people operating under a similar value system. It is remarkable how we are able to all share the common view of, ‘we are grateful for those who have fallen’, this in itself is an incredible experience. However, sometimes we forget the circumstances surrounding the whole point we are grateful for. Some are unable to see that the continual disagreements and bickering, has, in the past, escalated over time and resulted in violent and unforgiving acts of war. In reality, there are of course times whereby a genuine necessity to defend and react to an aggressor has been the only option. Yet, in a number of instances where there have been violence and conflict, it has often been down to a lack of understanding, incorrect data or in some cases the ego’s of certain figureheads.

One of the greatest lessons I have taken from my time in the marines is this, it is something I live by and encourage others to do the same. At a time of great uncertainty, insecurity and fear, there is a necessity to allow those who are orchestrating this concern, to never feed into the mindset of what it is you are doing. What really matters is how you, the individual, and those in the team around you, collectively work together in order to advance forward the idea of whatever it is you have been tasked to do. In some cases there is a time for innovation and sheer determination to get it done. As long as you are doing it ethically and in the best way that underpins yours and your teams value, it is essential to focus on that.

Remembering and reflecting is a huge part of the ability to be able to overcome uncertainty and adversity. Remembering why you are doing whatever it is you are doing, is a key fundamental to ensuring you do not give up on seeing it through. The time to reflect is to show you and whoever you work with, how you actually arrived at where you are. History is good, as it shapes where you may go in the future. We were recently presenting at a resilience seminar which was incredibly insightful and indeed made one think. There was a lot of value to be had not just from us, but also the other speakers that contributed. It made me realise something profound. In the Marines we celebrate the Corps birthday every year, part of this is because we like to ‘get boozy’ but the reality is, its because we are proud of where we have come from and what we’ve done. That in turn increases our self-confidence and confidence in the Royal Marines to be able to carry out our Commando Mindset – “Be the first to understand; the first to adapt and respond; and the first to overcome”. Have enough self-belief in this mantra and you have an unwavering sense of resilience to overcome the challenges that might lay ahead.

Therefore, it would make sense that we must reflect and remember more in our own lives. Investing time revisiting, what went wrong and what went right, how did I overcome that and how can apply those lessons today? Ask yourself this simple question, “when was the last time I reflected and remembered how I got to where I am today?” It may help define where you go tomorrow.