As red teamers, we focus heavily on the process of thinking. I came across a quote today, however, that highlights an area I have occasionally seen neglected:
"My late father always told me, 'Eat first.' In life, things happen that are beyond anyone's control, so at those times we must first fortify ourselves with a meal. We may be crying or angry or beaten down, but as we keep silently chewing, we'll slowly feel our courage build. It's very simple, but quite effective." - "Asakichi 167"
While this statement in large part addresses creating space before dealing with a problem (also a red team concept), it also emphasizes the need to properly fuel your body and brain to achieve optimal mental performance. We sometimes seem to forget that all the mental processes we practice and advocate depend on a physical body and brain that are properly and sufficiently fueled. Having participated in planning events where people showed up in the morning without having eaten breakfast, or with people who skip lunch, I have seen first hand the negative effects of failing to fuel the body and brain. It's kind of like showing up to a car race and not having a full tank of gas - we might do well at first, but in short order our mental performance will degrade, and worst of all, we probably won't even notice it.
**This post is submitted on behalf of LTC Neil Gensler**