You’re not alone, things catch me off guard, too! This week, I faced something I hadn’t given much thought to for years. My incredibly reliable car, which I maintain regularly, displayed the engine light and VSC light.
Hmmm, yikes, I haven’t planned on a new car purchase, now what? The good news is that ignition coil replacement costs less than purchasing a car. And, it served as a reminder that in time, what’s running well today can change quickly.
While writing about being caught off guard, Stanford Business wrote an article about this subject! I enjoyed reading their article, learned from it, and am sharing highlights here today.
In Brief
- Strategic surprises in business, politics, and everyday life are not just the result of bad information but of how we process it.
- Overly abstract thinking can lead to stereotypes and assumptions, while overly concrete thinking causes people to miss patterns and trends.
- Toggling between abstract and concrete thinking can help leaders and teams anticipate surprises.
Why do some unexpected events catch us completely off guard while others don’t? From what their research describes, how we think matters.
Abstract and concrete thinking come into play for each of us. Greater psychological distance tends to promote abstract thinking, while proximity promotes concrete thinking. Both approaches have unique blind spots.
When the researchers applied this theory to surprises, how we think influenced how surprises were processed.
They found that overly abstract thinking relies on broad schemas that can lead decision-makers to apply poorly fitting mental models, misjudge possible threats or opportunities, or assume that others will behave in stereotypical ways. Concrete thinking, on the other hand, involves being deeply immersed in the minutiae of a specific situation, which can lead individuals to overlook broader trends.
They found that a range of exercises can help people move between abstract and concrete frames of mind. Considering “why” people engage in an activity, for instance, encourages abstract thinking, while considering the “how” encourages concrete thinking. Thinking about possibilities in the more distant future engages abstract thinking, while generating ideas for the near future engages concrete thinking.
Time to Reflect
As a lifelong learner, I seek ways to learn from my experiences. Reflection turns emotional reaction into resilience. When you take time to process and prepare, the next surprise won’t shake you as much. Here are some suggestions to get started.
Replay What Happened
After being caught off-guard, think back on what happened — not to criticize yourself, but to understand your reaction. What triggered you? What did you learn? What will you do differently moving forward? Reflection helps you identify your emotional awareness and build confidence for next time.
Blind Spots
Repeatedly getting caught off-guard by similar situations can be a clue to emotional blind spots. Identifying these areas helps you strengthen your boundaries and prepare for future challenges with calm foresight.
Visualize
Visualization is emotional training for real life. Imagine yourself being caught off-guard again, but this time responding calmly and effectively. Practicing emotional composure in your mind conditions your brain to do the same in real situations.
Learn Your Patterns
Notice if certain people or topics tend to leave you caught off-guard. Maybe you react strongly to authority or criticism. Recognizing these patterns turns them from triggers into teachable moments. Awareness always precedes mastery.
Baseline
The best protection against being caught off-guard is daily emotional discipline. Mindfulness, journaling, prayer, or quiet reflection strengthen your baseline calm. When calm becomes your habit, surprise loses its power over you.
Final Thoughts
Being caught off-guard is unavoidable — but losing control isn’t. The real test of emotional intelligence is how fast you recover when life surprises you.
By pausing, labeling your emotions, replacing defense with curiosity, staying grounded, and reflecting afterward, you train your mind to stay steady in uncertainty. This helps you handle surprises with clarity and composure. True strength isn’t avoiding being caught off-guard — it’s mastering what you do next.
Be kind to yourself. That’s one of the lessons I learned this week. And, I asked myself how this situation worked for me, and I was able to list ways!
If you’d ever like to discuss how you’re planning for now and the future, click on Book a Time with Lynn for a complimentary 30-minute Zoom with me. Or send me a note via Email or check out what I offer @ The Living Planner.
For you pre-planners, my book is a resource you might enjoy. The 2026 edition of Living Planner What to Prepare Now While You Are Living © is being printed! Check it out HERE.
Quote of the week: “In the springtime, the heart regrows hope.” — Angie Weiland-Crosby
Reflection is powerful, Lynn
#Can’tPredictCanPrepare #CareForPeopleCareForBusiness