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2. Mission and Vision 2 POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847 Mission: Implements the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program, identifies and trains Master Resiliency Trainers (MRTs) and commences annual resiliency sustainment training in order to enhance overall performance, improve unit level readiness, and sustain a balanced, healthy, campaign capable, expeditionary army End state: Will improve unit readiness and performance by implementing the Resiliency Training program. The end state will see a more balanced, healthy and capable Brigade Combat Team

3. Task: Use Put it in Perspective to stop catastrophic thinking, reduce anxiety, and improve problem solving by identifying Worst, Best, and Most Likely outcomes of a situation. Conditions: Within a classroom environment and 90 minute timeframe. Standards: Understand that optimism is a primary target of Put it in Perspective Task, Conditions, Standards 3

4. Put It In Perspective You are here 4POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

5. Bottom Line Up Front 5 Put It In Perspective (PIIP) helps to build Optimism. Catastrophizing is when you waste critical energy ruminating about the irrational worst case outcomes of a situation, which prevents you from taking purposeful action. The goal of PIIP is to lower anxiety so that you can accurately assess the situation and deal with it.

6. What is catastrophizing? 6 Catastrophizing is when you waste critical energy ruminating about the irrational worst case outcomes of a situation. This is NOT the same as identifying the worst case and contingency planning. Contingency planning is productive. Catastrophizing is counterproductive. Catastrophizing is a slippery slope. It’s downward- spiral thinking. Catastrophizing creates high levels of anxiety, decreases focus, and increases helplessness. It prevents you from taking purposeful action. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

7. What’s the goal? 7 The goal of PIIP is to lower anxiety so that you can accurately assess the situation and deal with it. The goal is NOT to pretend “all is well,” to deny real problems, or to take away anxiety completely. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

8. Put It In Perspective Steps 8 Step 1: List worst case outcomes. Step 2: List best case outcomes. Step 3: List most likely outcomes. Step 4: Identify plan for dealing w ith most likely. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

9. Case Study 9 Your squad is out doing a land navigation drill. You’re late coming back. It’s twenty minutes past the midnight deadline and you’ve lost your way. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

10. Worst Case Scenario Thinking (WCST) 10 BLAST! The Sergeant’s going to be mad! He’s going to make everyone in the unit come looking for me. They’re all going to hate me—they just want to turn in for the night. The guys in the unit will turn against me AND I’ll get a negative counseling statement. I’ll have no support here. I’ll be chaptered out of the Army. I’ll never get another job in this economy. My family will be ashamed and want nothing to do with me. My girlfriend will dump me for someone who makes more money. I’ll never meet anyone else. I’ll end up alone and homeless and dead by age 25. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

11. PIIP Step 1: WCST 11 List “Worst Case” as chain. Keep asking “And then what happens?” Don’t stop until you’ve exhausted what is running through your head. Rate your mood, focus, and energy level while you are in WCST. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

12. Best Case Scenario Thinking (BCST) 12 When I turn around, I’ll see a few Soldiers walking around the corner. They’re lost too. They tell me I’m the only one who actually found the rest of my points. I pull it together and lead them back to the check-in point. The Sergeant is pleased and gives me a coin. He tells the Command to keep an eye out for me—I’m likely to advance quickly. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

13. PIIP Step 2: BCST 13 List “Best Case” as chain. Don’t stop until you run out of ideas. Rate your mood, focus, and energy level while in the midst of creating the positive outcomes. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

14. Most Likely Scenario 14 They realize I’m missing and send a vehicle. I get back to the check-in point and the Sergeant yells for a few minutes. We go back to base. The other guys ride me about it. At first formation tomorrow, Sergeant says that MOST of us found our points last night and gives me a dirty look. He moves on to something else. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

15. PIIP Step 3: Most Likely Scenario 15 List the Most Likely outcomes, focusing on emotions, behaviors, and other people. Check for accuracy. Move to different column, if necessary. Rate your mood, focus, and energy level while creating the Most Likely list. Develop plan for dealing with the Most Likely outcomes. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

16. Develop a Plan of Action 16 I’ll walk out to the road to look for a vehicle. I’ll joke about it with my buddies so they see I’m a good sport. I’ll make sure I’m on my game the next few days so Sergeant has nothing else to get on my case about. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

17. PIIP Step 4: Plan of Action 17 Develop a plan for dealing with the Most Likely outcomes. If necessary, briefly develop a plan for preventing Worst and increasing Best (BRIEFLY!) POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

18. PIIP: Key Principles 18 Catastrophizing depletes energy: Catastrophizing depletes energy, stops problem solving, and generates unhelpful anxiety. Order matters: Stop catastrophizing by looking at the Worst, then generating the Best—both of which help you to focus on the Most Likely. Make a plan: Once you are focused on the Most Likely, create a plan for dealing with the situation. Optimism: PIIP builds all of the MRT competencies; Optimism is a primary target. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

19. PIIP Practice 19 Activities: Practice PIIP with your group. Practice PIIP with a partner. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

20. PIIP Group Practice 20 Pick a common AE that can trigger catastrophizing: Received a negative counseling statement Fight with spouse/child/friend and they end the call abruptly Practice PIIP: Capture WCST Create BCST Identify Most Likely Scenario Develop plan for dealing with Most Likely Scenario POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

21. PIIP Group Practice 21 Scenario: You receive a negative counseling statement. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

22. Worst Case Scenario Thinking (WCST) 22 I really screwed this one up. Everything good I’ve done up until now is meaningless and will be forgotten. I won’t be recommended for promotion. I don’t have what it takes to stay in the Army. I won’t be able to support my family. My family will think I’m a failure. I’ll never find another job. We’ll end up on the streets. My family will move in with relatives. I’ll die alone on the streets. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

23. Best Case Scenario Thinking (BCST) 23 The negative counseling statement was a joke being played on me. I’ll be immediately recommended for promotion. I’ll be the fastest NCO to reach Sergeant Major in the history of the Army. I’ll get a corner office in the Pentagon. The President will personally call me for advice. I’ll retire early and live on the coast. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

24. Most Likely Scenario 24 I’ll receive corrective action from my squad leader. I’ll be frustrated. My squad leader will be disappointed. I’ll receive follow-up counseling. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

25. Develop a Plan of Action 25 I’ll pay close attention to the corrective action plan that I receive so I can get back on my game. I’ll talk to my battle buddy about the situation. I’ll let my squad leader know that I’ll do my best not let him down again. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

26. PIIP Group Practice 26 Scenario: You have a fight with your spouse/child/friend and he or she ends the call abruptly. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

27. Worst Case Scenario Thinking (WCST) 27 They think I’m an moron. They’re not going to want to talk to me next time I call. They’re going to cut me off completely. When I get home, they’ll tell me to get out of the house and not come back. They’ll trash my car. I’ll have to take a bus and leave town. The bus gets into an accident. Everyone is killed. No one comes to my funeral. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

28. Best Case Scenario Thinking (BCST) 28 They were using their cell phone and their battery ran out. The cell phone company will send them $50,000 for their trouble. We’ll invest the money in some real estate. We’ll make a fortune and buy a professional football team. I’ll coach the team and lead them to the super bowl. We’ll win the super bowl and I’ll get elected to the Hall of Fame. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

29. Most Likely Scenario 29 They’ll be frustrated with me. I’ll be angry for a little while. I’ll be pretty tense for a few hours. We’ll both cool off and talk again in a few days. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

30. Develop a Plan of Action 30 I’ll do some extra PT to let out some steam. I’ll talk to someone I trust about the situation and get my thoughts together before I talk to my spouse/child/friend again. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

31. PIIP Practice 31 Work on your own or with a partner. Choose an Activating Event and list WCST, BCST, and Most Likely Scenario. Notice your mood, focus, and energy level. Then develop a plan for dealing with the Most Likely outcomes. POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

32. Put It In Perspective: Debrief 32 What did you learn through this exercise? Which column was the most difficult to create (Worst, Best, Most Likely)? Why? POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

33. Applications 33 What situations will PIIP be most helpful with? How can PIIP make you a better Soldier? How can PIIP help Soldiers be more effective in coping with stress on and off duty? POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847

34. Check on Learning 34 What is the skill? PIIP is a method to stop catastrophic thinking and deal with the most likely implications. When do I use it? Use PIIP when you are “making a mountain out of a molehill or making a Himalaya out of a mountain.” How do I use it? List the Worst Case, Best Case, and then identify the Most Likely outcomes and develop a plan for dealing with them.

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36. AAR What went well 1. 2. 3. What can be improved 1. 2. 3. 36 As of 25 Oct 10 POC: ASC MRT, DSN 793-4847