In the hit show Ted Lasso, the coach offers a struggling player one of the simplest, most profound pieces of wisdom:
“You know what the happiest animal on Earth is? It’s a goldfish… Because it’s got a 10-second memory. Be a goldfish.”
In public safety, holding onto a bad interaction, a tough call, or an unfair critique can weigh you down fast. Carrying the stress of a shift home—or carrying personal frustration into your next contact—erodes performance, health, and relationships.
At RITE our core mission revolves around Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Social Intelligence (SI). To practice true emotional self-control, sometimes you just need to learn how to be a goldfish.
The Danger of the “Emotional Spike”
When an officer faces a difficult call or a frustrating interaction, it triggers a spike in stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. That reaction is natural.
The real danger happens when you keep replaying that moment in your head. Replaying it carries the stress from Call A right into Call B—leaving you drained by the end of your shift and taking it out on your family at home.
What “Being a Goldfish” Means in Public Safety
Thinking like a goldfish isn’t about ignoring accountability or failing to learn from mistakes. It’s about emotional resetting.
- On the Job: You make a tactical mistake, lose your temper for a split second, or deal with someone who refuses to cooperate. Acknowledge it, correct it, learn the lesson, and hit the reset button.
- At Home: You had a busy 12-hour shift. When you walk through your front door, hit your 10-second reset. Don’t let the frustration of the street spill over onto your family.
Put into Practice: The RITE Ladder Technique
How do you build that 10-second memory on and off duty? At RITE Academy, we teach practical cognitive tools to help officers manage their emotional state. Here is how you can put the RITE Ladder of Emotions to work:
1. The Daily Check In
Our RITE Ladder illustrates 18 different emotional states. At the bottom live low-energy or destructive emotions like Anger, Frustration, and Worry. At the top are positive driver emotions like Joy, Gratitude, and Love.
- Emotional Awareness: Throughout your shift, perform a quick “Daily Check-In”. Ask yourself: Where am I on my ladder right now?
- Stop the “Swoosh”: If a tough call or toxic interaction causes you to “swoosh” down your ladder into anger or frustration, catch it immediately. Recognizing where you are is the first step to climbing back up.
2. Take a Tactical Reset
Notice physical stress signals—clenched jaw, shallow breathing, tight shoulders.
Take a deep, controlled breath to physically interrupt the fight-or-flight response and stop the downward spiral.
- Release the Previous Shift: Erase bad thoughts or interactions from earlier in the day or night.
- Wipe the Slate Clean: Yesterday’s call shouldn’t dictate today’s shift. Give every new encounter, every call, and every return home the benefit of a New Day.
3. Practice Gratitude to Stay at the Top
On your way to work or on your drive home, list three things you are grateful for. Shift your mental focus away from what went wrong and move back up to the top of your ladder.
The Bottom Line
You can’t control every call, every driver, or every stressful moment on the job. But you can control how long you carry the weight of those moments.
By checking the RITE Ladder, and cultivating a 10-second memory, you can build career resiliency, protect your mental wellness, and return home safe—mind, body, and spirit.
Learn the Lesson, reset your Emotions, and be a Goldfish.
Interested in bringing Emotional Intelligence and De-escalation training to your agency?
The RITE Goldfish Approach
Since 2015, RITE Academy has partnered with thousands of public safety agencies to integrate Emotional Intelligence into the core of their culture. Our unique training methodology utilizes physical cognitive imprinting tools, empowering officers to maintain peak executive control over their emotions in any high-stakes environment.
Take the next step for your department. Contact us today to learn how to bring the RITE life-changing training to your agency.
