In answer to the question “What is better than presence of mind in an accident?” a wag said, “Absence of body.” This is certainly true; but as we cannot always escape accidents so easily, it is well to have, or to cultivate, what is called presence of mind.
“Presence of mind” means keeping cool and collected in an emergency of any kind. It is not the opposite, of absent-mindedness, but of “losing one’s head”. The words mind and head in these phrases mean reason; and so one who has presence of mind in danger is one who has such control over his nerves that his reason is not upset, but still directs his actions.
People who, as we say, “lose their heads” in an emergency, are so overcome by such strong feelings as fear, anxiety or excitement that their reason is for the time in abeyance, or “absent”. In consequence they do and say silly things in their fright and haste.
It is generally some sudden danger, or threat of danger, that causes people to lose their heads. An officer may lose his head in a sudden attack; if so, he is not fit for his post. A driver may lose his head in the traffic of a crowded street, and cause a serious accident.
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A business man may lose his head in a commercial panic, and rashly buy or sell shares to his loss or ruin. A mother may lose her head when an accident happens to her child and sit down and scream, and lose her little one. But in all these cases, people who keep cool, and have presence of mind, may avert the danger and save the situation.
Presence of mind is, to some extent, a gift; that is, some people have it naturally. Such people are very fortunate; for their presence of mind in an emergency may save them from taking a false step which might mean ruin to them or others. But all are not so fortunate.
It is, however, possible for nervous and excitable people to cultivate presence of mind. The great thing is constantly to practice controlling the emotions. We must deliberately check and restrain ourselves from being carried away by our feelings, such as, anger, fear, anxiety, excessive grief or excessive joy.
We must keep a tight rein on those fiery steeds, the passions. If we thus develop a habit of self-restraint, we shall be all the better able to keep cool and calm in the face of danger.